From June 30, around 4,300 of Hanoi’s motorcycle rickshaws will be impounded and eventually destroyed.
According to VnExpress, officials made the decision to remove motorcycle rickshaws as they tend to impede traffic in fast lanes. They are also used to transport construction materials, such as long metal poles, which present serious safety hazards. The vehicles have been involved in a number of fatal accidents in recent years.
The tricycles, which are built from old motorbikes, are widely known to be used by war veterans. They use them to transport goods around the city, and serve as a way for them to make ends meet. As VTV reported in November 2017, though, only 780 out of nearly 4,400 vehicles were actually driven by veterans.
Since January, Hanoi has started to register motorcycle rickshaws owned by veterans. All registered rickshaws will be allowed to remain on the roads – it is the unregistered vehicles that will be removed. In order to be successfully registered, the vehicles must have a specific place of origin and meet minimum safety requirements. Veterans must also show they are capable drivers and must not carry any passengers. So far, only 33 (0.76%) have been granted a license.
[Photo via VnExpress]
