The Hanoi Police Department have made a controversial suggestion that 90% people support a motorbike ban in the city centre.

Traffic congestion is very common in Hanoi.

Hanoi authorities recently approved a draft resolution over personal vehicle management in order to ease congestion and environment pollution during 2017-2020 period and to 2030.

The Hanoi Police Department was asked to survey and gather opinions of the local households. The police then issued over 15,000 questionnaires in 30 districts.

The police claim 84% of the people agreed with the plan to tighten management and limit personal vehicles in Hanoi. Over 85% approved of the plan to limit personal vehicles on the Ring Road 3. Over 90% supported the motorbike ban, however, they also asked to improve the public transport.

71% supported the plan to adjust working hours to reduce congestion.

Hanoi has about 5.2 million motorbikes, 486,000 cars and 1.2 million vehicles from other provinces. Its annual growth rate in car sales is 10% and 6.7% motorbike sales.

According to Hanoi authorities, the current road network can't accommodate the vehicles. It needs to be 1.34 times larger so that 60% of the registered cars and motorbikes can all go out at the same time at the speed of 20km per hour. 

The authorities fear that congestion in the city centre or routes to the city will get worse during rush hours or holidays.

Hanoi authorities proposed to carry out the resolution with three overlapping steps.

From 2017 to 2018, they will tighten management on personal vehicles and improve the state management work. 

From 2017 to 2020, public transport will be developed and personal vehicles will be restricted from entering congestion hot spots alternately on odd and even days depending on their number plates. 

From 2017 to 2030, personal vehicles will be banned from certain locations on certain times in order to ban motorbikes in 2030.

dtinews