VietNamNet Bridge - Around 250 bikes will be available for rent for only VND4,000-5,000 ($0.19) per hour under a pilot project in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Fivecities to pilot public bicycle rental services

In a recent government-supported project, Hanoi is among the five major cities in Vietnam that will implement the bike rentals program to encourage people to use this environmentally-friendly mean of transport.

This project is warmly supported by experts and people.

Mr. Khuat Viet Hung, Head of the Transport Department of the Ministry of Transport, said that in the last two years, the number of cyclists in Hanoi in particular and large cities in Vietnam in general greatly increased.

“Travel expense is low so anyone can use bicycles. Especially in the downtown areas, such as the old quarter in Hanoi, where the traffic flow is dense, bicycles are very appropriate," Hung added.

Mr. Do Xuan Thuy, General Director of the Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company, the developer of the bike rental program in Hanoi, said: "Bicycles are suitable for the infrastructure of Hanoi. This type of vehicle will help solve environmental problems and traffic congestion in the city. The rent that we will offer will be reasonable (about VND4,000-5,000 per hour)."

According to Thuy, the company will initially offer about 250 bicycles in Hoan Kiem district. The vehicles will be managed by electronic cards. Bicycles for rent will be available at bus stops or tourist attractions, especially the Old Quarter.

"Within three years, the number of people using bicycles will increase. Bicycles will not only attract tourists," Thuy said.

The four other cities in this scheme are HCM City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho.

T. Van