In 2014, the government instructed Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Danang and Can Tho to pilot a public bicycle rental service in city centres.
The bikes left to rust
Following the instruction, Hanoi piloted the service at Hanoi Industrial University, Electric Power University, Vietnam University of Commerce and National College for Education.
The service was intended to ease traffic jams and environmental pollution.
However, the service only operated for a short time due to the small number of customers.
At Hanoi Industrial University, a long row of bikes have been left to rust in a corner of the yard.
Meanwhile, the service disappeared at Electric Power University, Vietnam University of Commerce and National College for Education.
Initially, National College for Education had up to 195 bikes for rent, topping among the four piloted spots. However, just one year after that, the service was moved out of the college due to the modest number of customers.
The bike rental service only operated for a short time due to the small number of customers
Earlier, Vu Ngoc Son, deputy general director of Urban Green Environment JS Company, which piloted the service in Hanoi complained about the shortage of parking lots, which made it difficult for people to practically use the service.
People did not want to use bikes as a long-term mean of transport. They only hired them in some cases.
In 2015, Hanoi’s Department of Public Security launched a pilot police bike patrol in urban districts.
The ward police use these bikes to easily access difficult to reach areas.
However, according to local people, the project proved ineffective as the police have been rarely seen using the bikes while they are on their duty.
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