In an effort to encourage locals to use public transport, Saigon authorities announced a bike-sharing program last Friday.
According to VnExpress, the scheme will be closely integrated with the city’s bus routes in order to help citizens move conveniently between transportation hubs and reduce waiting times. Thus, scores of Saigon’s major bus terminals will be outfitted with a nearby bike station to facilitate ease of movement.
The news outlet shares that the public bikes will promote public transportation usage as city officials are trying to tackle Saigon’s ever-present congestion problem. The Department of Transport, the government agency in charge of the pilot program, said that it’s still working on how to best manage the fleet of bikes, as security is still an issue.
For now, department officials are considering installing electronic locks on bikes in addition to requiring users to create an official account to access bike-sharing services. Once registered, riders will be able to use a bike for free for the first hour before they have to pay a small fee or return the bike at any nearby station.
Earlier this month, city authorities also ordered the removal of the Ben Thanh Market bus terminal to make way for District 1’s metro construction. The new central terminal has been temporarily relocated to a site on Ham Nghi Street.
Saigon will not be the only city in Vietnam to enjoy public bikes. Last year, officials in Can Tho also unveiled future plans for a city-wide bike-sharing scheme, to be completed by 2020.
[Photo via Formosa Guide]
