What do people in Ring Road 1 expect when Hanoi bans gasoline motorbikes?

People flock to the center of Hanoi to have fun and eat - Photo: PHAM TUAN

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed a directive on a number of urgent and drastic tasks to prevent and solve environmental pollution, including requiring Hanoi to study banning gasoline-powered motorbikes from Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026.

"Very optimistic"

Living outside Ring Road 1, but often having to go into Hanoi's inner city to handle work, Mr. Tran Van Truong (32 years old) said he is "very optimistic" about banning gasoline motorbikes from the above area.

According to Mr. Truong, banning gasoline motorbikes will keep the air clean, create a livable city, and orient Hanoi to become a carbon-certified city.

Mr. Truong believes that Hanoi must gradually become modern and civilized, so banning gasoline-powered motorbikes is appropriate, according to him.

Gasoline motorbikes are the means of transportation and daily livelihood of people.

Mr. Truong believes that gradually removing motorbikes from urban core areas is in line with the world trend. Giving an example, Mr. Truong said that currently, large cities in China, in addition to banning motorbikes, also restrict cars from other provinces from entering the city according to time frames.

However, according to Mr. Truong, restricting gasoline motorbikes must have a roadmap, because the majority of Hanoians are using motorbikes as a means of transportation and daily work.

Emissions of each motorbike should be tested instead of banned.

Working as a motorbike taxi driver in Cua Bac street (Ba Dinh ward), Mr. Mai Van Tam said that the Prime Minister's decision to limit emissions is very good, but each vehicle's emissions should be tested and there should be a specific deadline to give people time to adapt and change.

Mr. Tam said if Hanoi bans gasoline vehicles next year, it would be "a bit hasty": "People will have economic difficulties changing vehicles, especially the poor.

I think Hanoi should test the emissions of each motorbike, and allow those that meet the standards to enter the inner city, and clearly define the time allowed to enter so that people can gradually change. During that time, people will be frugal, save money, and only when they have money can they change" - Mr. Tam expressed his thoughts.

Mr. Mai Van Tam

In reality, Mr. Tam added: "If we support people in the core area of Hanoi to switch from gasoline motorbikes to electric motorbikes, how will people outside the core area who go into the inner city to do business be supported? I think it's quite difficult."

Will support people to "basically ride electric cars"

Speaking before the City People's Council at the question-and-answer session on December 11, 2024, Hanoi Chairman Tran Sy Thanh said that from now on, Hanoi "must have clean air".

Mr. Thanh said that when Hanoi passes the resolution on low emission zones and motorbike restrictions, the city will report to the Government and ask for a plan with vehicle manufacturers to have a program to reduce gasoline-powered motorbikes in low emission zones.

"For people living here, we have a car exchange program, supporting people to exchange cars, reducing the price of electric cars, supporting loans, so that people basically use electric cars, not gasoline motorbikes anymore.

I will have a plan for the government, businesses, and people to work together, it's a common thing, that's how the city can be clean" - Mr. Thanh added.

Beltway 1 surrounds Hanoi's inner city - Graphics: N.KH.

Hanoi's public transport only meets 19% of demand.

Hanoi currently has two metro lines, Cat Linh - Ha Dong and Nhon - Hanoi station, in commercial operation.

The capital's bus network has 154 routes, with an estimated total operating length of about 3,850km. In 2024, buses transported more than 227.6 million passengers, and is expected to reach 240 - 250 million passengers in 2025, equivalent to over 650,000 passengers/day.

Public transport currently only meets about 19.5% of people's needs.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-dan-trong-vanh-dai-1-mong-muon-gi-khi-ha-noi-se-cam-xe-may-xang-20250714122328942.htm