Towards a livable city

TP - The decision to spend approximately 7,000 billion VND to completely eliminate bus fares in Ho Chi Minh City from 2026 is not just a simple financial figure. It is a bold and decisive step by the city's leaders in placing citizens and the environment at the center of development.

With Ho Chi Minh City's transportation infrastructure struggling under the pressure of millions of private vehicles, this massive budget allocation is seen as a "special remedy" to encourage people to move away from motorbikes and onto public transport. This is not a far-fetched solution, as Ho Chi Minh City has already implemented bus fare subsidies for many years, but moving towards completely free bus travel can be considered a revolution. It removes the cost barrier for low-income workers, students, and the elderly, transforming buses into a truly essential public service, similar to streetlights or parks.

However, if we only focus on "free" transportation, will the traffic congestion problem be solved? The answer lies in a transformation in quality and trend: "Green Transportation." Gradually replacing the old, smoky, and often late buses with modern, quiet electric vehicles is not only a global trend but also the key to changing long-held prejudices against buses. People will no longer take buses simply because they are "cheap," or even "free," but because they are now "more sophisticated, clean, and civilized." When silent electric buses become a familiar sight on routes from the suburbs to the city center, the urban landscape will change, creating a sustainable transportation ecosystem aiming for Net Zero.

The policy is clear, but for many experts, the biggest challenge after allocating approximately 7 trillion VND per year is building a bus culture. To encourage people to abandon the convenient habit of "pulling up wherever they go" when using motorbikes, the bus network must achieve absolute reliability in terms of timeliness and service. Being free isn't enough; buses must be more courteous, more punctual, faster, or at least as reliable as motorbikes. To achieve this, dedicated priority lanes are needed so that buses don't get bogged down in the very stream of motorbikes they are intended to replace.

In addition, the agencies developing the plan also need to address the crucial issue of the distance from the bus stop to the front door using public bicycles and ensuring clear sidewalks. When taking the bus becomes more convenient than taking a motorbike out of the house, the habit will naturally form.

The information about the approximately 7 trillion VND allocated by the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Tran Luu Quang, to support people with free bus rides is a calculated "gamble" for the future.

If successful, Ho Chi Minh City will not only reduce the chronic traffic congestion and environmental pollution that have long been alarming, but also create a new generation of urban residents: modern, disciplined, and appreciative of community values.

This is not just about financial support, but an effort to restructure social behavior, moving towards a more livable city for everyone.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/huong-toi-thanh-pho-dang-song-post1832580.tpo