Hanoi authorities again raise controversial motorbike ban

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Congestion in Hanoi. Photo: Vietnamnet

The draft resolution over personal vehicle management in order to ease congestion and environment pollution during 2017-2020 period and to 2030 includes six clauses. Hanoi will issue emission standards for motorbikes, ban outdated vehicles and gradually ban motorbikes into the inner city by 2030.

The review meeting of the draft resolution was held by the Fatherland Front Committees of Hanoi on June 16.

Hanoi Bar Association Vice President Nguyen Hong Tuyen said state agencies must be clear on the legal ground they use to ban outdated vehicles in the inner city now and all vehicles by 2030.

"How will the residents living in the inner city travel outside?" he said.
Vu Van Vien, director of the Department of Transport, said the department had researched and drafted the plan since 2015. The plan is being announced to gather opinions from the experts and the public.

Vien cited the Resolution 49 issued in 2011 by the prime minister about emission standards for motorbikes which would be used to ban outdated motorbikes. The authorisation and decision to ban motorbikes from the city centre belong to the Hanoi chairman in accordance with Local Government Organisation Law and Road Traffic Law.

However, there is opposition to the proposal and suggestions that Hanoi authorities should prioritise public transport first before considering limiting personal vehicles and ban motorbike altogether. Public transport isn’t even mentioned in the draft resolution.

Hanoi Vice Chairman Nguyen The Hung said their goal was to have sustainable socio-economic development and improve the living standards, not just not manage motorbikes.

"We do this for the majority of the public, not for a few individuals," he claimed.