Rebuilding the cycling culture.

The Hanoi People's Committee's plan to cease the operation of gasoline-powered motorcycles within the Ring Road 1 area from July 1, 2026, and the ongoing debate over the transition to electric motorcycles, remain highly controversial, despite the Prime Minister's Directive No. 20/CT-TTg (on urgent and decisive tasks to prevent and address environmental pollution) not containing any mandatory regulations requiring all citizens to switch to electric motorcycles simultaneously.

On many forums, debates continue about whether people are ready for the shift in transportation methods. Can charging station infrastructure handle the needs of millions of vehicles simultaneously? The risks of fire and explosion, the cost of replacing vehicles, and the disposal of used batteries are still being fiercely debated. However, one solution that is familiar, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and deeply rooted in Vietnamese urban life for decades, remains conspicuously absent from policy forums – the bicycle.

In the memories of many, about 25-30 years ago, the image of Hanoi, the capital city, was of people cycling to school and work, leisurely, simply, and intimately. As life developed, motorized vehicles gradually replaced bicycles. But now, with the environmental and urban traffic problems becoming more urgent than ever, "rebuilding" the cycling culture is not just a nostalgic memory, but also a practical direction.

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In developed countries with some of the highest per capita incomes in the world , such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, the choice to cycle is not necessarily due to an inability to afford cars or electric motorcycles, but rather because their governments have persistently cultivated a civilized and sustainable habit. Even the former Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, cycled daily to the Prime Minister's Office, becoming a powerful media image that inspired and guided public opinion beyond mere propaganda slogans.

The benefits of cycling are probably well-known: it improves health, protects the environment, and, most importantly, the investment cost is dozens of times cheaper than electric vehicles. While an electric vehicle can cost tens of millions of dong, a good bicycle only costs a few million dong. This significantly reduces the financial pressure on workers and students, who are most affected if forced to switch modes of transportation in a short period of time.

However, to encourage people to confidently ride bicycles, many accompanying policies are needed: building dedicated lanes, ensuring safe parking, promoting public bicycle sharing models like those in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang ; organizing "car-free day" campaigns, cycling to work, with the participation of high-ranking leaders to spread this new lifestyle. Instead of just focusing on reaching a consensus on switching to electric vehicles, we need to broaden the discussion forum, helping to change perceptions and traffic habits, creating space for bicycles – an approach that is not new, but never outdated.

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MINH DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tai-thiet-van-hoa-di-xe-dap-post807757.html