Hanoi to pilot ban on cars with more than 16 seats in Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake from March 1

The Hanoi People's Committee has just approved the Department of Transport's proposal to pilot a plan to limit cars with more than 16 seats in the Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake by the hour from March 1.

Restrict vehicles to reduce congestion

The Hanoi People's Committee has just approved the proposal of the Department of Transport on the plan that cars with more than 16 seats are only allowed to operate during the time frame in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, except for buses and school buses.

The limited pilot period starts from March 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 in the morning and from 16:30 to 18:30 in the afternoon. After 6 months, the agencies will evaluate the effectiveness and report to the city for consideration and decision.

From March 1, cars with more than 16 seats will be restricted by hours in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. Illustrative photo.

The routes restricting vehicles with more than 16 seats include the Hang Giay - Dong Xuan - Hang Duong - Hang Ngang - Hang Dao - Dinh Tien Hoang axes; the Hang Dau - Tran Nhat Duat - Nguyen Huu Huan axes back into Hanoi's Old Quarter and the streets of Ly Quoc Su, Nha Tho, Nha Chung, Quang Trung (section from Trang Thi to Nha Chung), Au Trieu, Bao Khanh, Hang Trong, Hang Hanh alley, Bao Khanh alley.

According to the representative of Hanoi Department of Transport: "Initially proposed by Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, the Department then researched with Hanoi departments and branches and found it necessary to limit vehicles with more than 16 seats to reduce traffic congestion."

This representative explained that there is a situation where many hotels where foreign guests stay, 16-45 seat passenger cars often pick up and drop off guests, causing traffic congestion in the Old Quarter. Just 2 passenger cars lined up side by side on the road will cause congestion due to the characteristics of the Old Quarter being small streets and alleys.

"Every morning, traffic is caused by tourist contract cars coming and going to pick up and drop off passengers, especially in the morning. They stop to pick up passengers and unload their luggage for dozens of minutes, and the road is small so traffic is often congested," said Ms. Nguyen Phuong, a resident of the Old Quarter.

Vehicle restrictions do not affect tourism

The Hanoi Department of Transport said that the hourly vehicle restriction will have accompanying solutions so as not to affect the tourism goals of local residents and foreign tourists. To support local residents and tourists to travel conveniently, the city will arrange 4 transit points in the directions of the restricted area on Ba Trieu, Tran Nhat Duat, Phung Hung streets and Dong Xuan market area. The transit vehicles will not use fossil fuels.

Agreeing with the hourly vehicle restriction on the above streets, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy - Traffic expert said: Recently, the number of tourists visiting and staying in Hoan Kiem Old Quarter has increased, the need for transportation to serve visitors is inevitable.

However, according to Ms. Thuy, this area has not yet organized convenient parking lots for tourists. Traffic organization for tourist contract vehicles serving guests is still limited to punishing violating vehicles without having necessary measures to reduce the "burden" of traffic infrastructure on small streets that cannot accommodate bulky passenger vehicles causing traffic jams, becoming a frustration for people living in the old town.

Therefore, banning cars with more than 16 seats from operating in the above areas will help reduce traffic congestion in the Old Quarter, especially during rush hour, improve the environment, reduce emissions, and protect public health.

Previously, from mid-2024, Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee Pham Tuan Long said that this unit had proposed that the city limit cars entering the old quarter and limit buses entering radial axes to reduce traffic density in the old quarter area.

Hanoi is also developing a plan to ban fossil fuel vehicles from operating in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake to create a low-emission zone. It is expected that the city will support people in this area to switch from gasoline and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles.

The Old Quarter of Hanoi covers an area of ​​over 80 hectares, including 10 wards: Hang Dao, Hang Bac, Hang Gai, Hang Bo, Hang Bong, Hang Buom, Hang Ma, Cua Dong, Dong Xuan, and Ly Thai To. Hoan Kiem Lake covers an area of ​​about 12 hectares, with surrounding streets including Dinh Tien Hoang, Ly Thai To, and Hang Khay.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/ha-noi-thi-diem-cam-o-to-tren-16-cho-khu-vuc-pho-co-ho-guom-tu-ngay-1-3-192250211103609352.htm