Why are public bicycles unattractive?

Two years ago, residents of Hai Phong city first learned about public bicycle services, with the hope of promoting green transportation. However, after two years of implementation, the service has had to be temporarily suspended.

Public bicycle services have been implemented in Hai Phong city since 2023 (archive photo).

People are not yet familiar with it.

Having experienced the public bicycle service near Tam Bac Lake, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh from Hong Bang Ward shared: “The public bicycle station is near my house, so initially I used this service to take my children to school and to work, which was convenient and good for my health. But after only a few times, I noticed many inconveniences. The bikes are not suitable for long distances, carrying a lot of luggage, or in the rain. The limited infrastructure means I have to walk a distance from the parking area to my workplace. The process of opening the app, picking up, and returning the bike is time-consuming.”

The pilot project for a public bicycle service, invested by Tri Nam Group Joint Stock Company in Hai Phong city, was launched in February 2023. It features 500 bicycles placed at 39 stations arranged by the city's People's Committee on the sidewalks of the former Le Chan, Hong Bang, and Ngo Quyen districts. Each station is 10-15 m² in size, accommodating 10-20 bicycles in individual spaces. Upon implementation, the company expects to attract a significant number of tourists , especially those on food tours and city tours.

Public bicycles are provided by Tri Nam Group Joint Stock Company on several central streets.

Initially, the service was well-received by locals and tourists. Mr. Pham Van Hai, a motorbike taxi driver who usually picks up passengers near the public bicycle collection point on Hoang Ngan Street, said: “Initially, I saw many tourists choosing public bicycles to explore the city center, visit famous landmarks like museums and theaters, and go on food tours. However, recently I’ve noticed the number of people using the bikes has gradually decreased. Sometimes, there are no riders all day. Now, the bikes are moving around.”

Prior to Hai Phong city, in May 2022, Hai Duong (formerly Hai Duong city) became the third locality in the country to implement a public bicycle service. Tri Nam Group Joint Stock Company was also the implementing unit. The company arranged 6 stations and 120 bicycles at the Provincial Gymnasium, Bach Dang Park, Thanh Nien Street, Ton Duc Thang Street, and the 30/10 and Thong Nhat Squares. However, after only a little over a year of implementation, this service in Hai Duong also had to cease operation.

According to a representative of Tri Nam Group Joint Stock Company, the reason why public bicycles haven't attracted many users is due to sedentary habits. Many people are reluctant to ride bicycles because of their slow speed and don't want to walk a few hundred meters to the station. Others are not willing to pay for this service. The number of people using public bicycles is gradually decreasing, leading to increased maintenance costs, losses for the company, and forcing it to stop operations in many localities.

We need to find opportunities for redevelopment.

Last May, Tri Nam Group Joint Stock Company discontinued its public bicycle service in Hai Phong city.

Although the public bicycle program has been discontinued, this service still plays a role in the future development of a green city. In June 2025, Hai Phong city achieved its 5th Sustainable City of Environmental Potential (COR) certification. To achieve this certification, the city needed to meet sustainable development criteria, including environmental management, efficient resource use, biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction. Other criteria included green space ratio, air quality, public space area, and waste management. Applying green technology in transportation was also a crucial factor. Therefore, the public bicycle service, though a small piece of the puzzle, contributed to the city's achievement of this certification.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Xo, Chairman of the Hai Phong Tourism Association, commented: “Bicycles are a popular means of transportation in many developed countries. Under suitable conditions, cycling helps save energy, reduce emissions, and protect the environment. Hai Phong City has all the conditions to continue developing public bicycle services, aiming for green transportation and a clean city. For this model to return, coordination between the government and businesses is needed, along with preferential policies, reasonable prices, and accessibility for the people. The scale of the service needs to be expanded, connecting many locations for convenient use. Only when the conditions are right will people form the habit of using public bicycles.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa, representative of Tri Nam Group Joint Stock Company, to overcome the limitations of traditional bicycles, the company plans to introduce electric-assisted bicycles to Hai Phong city. This new type of bicycle helps people travel faster, with less effort, and can also conveniently carry bulky goods. This is an important step in the plan to bring public bicycle services back to many localities.

Despite the temporary suspension of the service, residents and businesses in Hai Phong city still hope that, with careful planning and the goal of a "Green Hai Phong," public bicycles will be improved and become a popular green mode of transportation in the future in the port city.

HAI MINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/vi-sao-xe-dap-cong-cong-thieu-hap-dan-524748.html