The Hanoi People's Committee is seeking public opinions on the Draft Decision on the use of motorbikes, scooters, and rudimentary vehicles for passenger and cargo transportation in the area.

The draft regulation stipulates that drivers of the above vehicles to transport passengers or goods must register with the People's Committee of the ward, commune, or town to confirm the stamp on the Transport Activity Card. This card is printed by the organization or individual according to the form.

The People's Committees of communes, wards and towns are assigned to arrange pick-up and drop-off locations for motorbike taxis and loading and unloading locations for motorbikes and rudimentary vehicles participating in business.

The Hanoi People's Committee also encourages individuals involved in passenger and cargo transportation by motorbike, scooter, and rudimentary vehicle to participate and establish organizations (cooperatives, professional associations) to help and support each other during their operations.

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Hanoi seeks public opinion on motorbike taxi drivers having to have a license. Photo: Document

Also according to the draft, motorbike taxi drivers or cargo transporters must carry documents when operating, such as: Vehicle registration certificate, driver's license (to drive two-wheeled motorbikes), valid civil liability insurance certificate of the motor vehicle owner, valid identity card or citizen identification card, and transportation operation card in accordance with regulations.

Previously, at the end of 2019, the Hanoi Department of Transport also drafted regulations on the management and use of rudimentary vehicles, motorbikes, two-wheeled motorcycles and similar types to transport passengers and goods.

This proposal has received mixed opinions from the public, especially from those working as motorbike taxi drivers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh (Cau Giay, Hanoi) said: He and his wife moved from Hoa Binh to Hanoi to rent a house to make a living. His wife works as an hourly maid, and he drives a motorbike taxi every day for a few acquaintances near where he lives.

“They hired me to take their children to school in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. Two other families hired me to take their children to extra classes. I am a resident, if I am required to go and get confirmation to get a “practice card” in the ward where I live, will it be easy?

Most of the motorbike taxi drivers like me come from other localities, will it be difficult to get confirmation from the ward? Will it make us have to go through more procedures, pushing us into a situation that is already difficult or not?”, Mr. Binh wondered.

Traffic expert Dr. Phan Le Binh, Chief Representative of OCG Japan Consulting Office in Vietnam, wondered: Why do motorbike taxi drivers need a license?

“I have not seen the purpose of the regulation requiring motorbike taxi drivers to have a license. And honestly, the proposal feels like an administrative barrier rather than serving a greater purpose related to traffic,” Dr. Phan Le Binh expressed.

He added that there is still a very small number of motorbike taxi drivers who work as freelancers and are not registered. The majority of them have become members of a certain motorbike taxi technology company. At these companies, in order to have an operating account, they will verify the driver's license. This also confirms the legality of the drivers.

“So why do we need to issue more practice cards? This will create more difficulties for those with low incomes in society,” said Dr. Phan Le Binh.

Explaining this to VietNamNet, Mr. Nguyen Tuyen, Head of the Transport Management Department, Hanoi Department of Transport, said that the goal of issuing practice cards to motorbike taxi drivers is to ensure traffic safety and order, urban order, and passenger safety, not to create procedures that cause difficulties.

“We want to aim for the safety of passengers. When motorbike taxi drivers have a license and are identified, local authorities will prioritize locations for picking up passengers and loading goods instead of the current arbitrariness. People with a license will be given priority,” said Mr. Tuyen.

According to the representative of the Hanoi Department of Transport, most of the technology-based motorbike taxis that carry passengers have their own brand logos to distinguish and help consumers identify them. However, the situation of speeding and reckless driving, which is a serious traffic safety problem, is very high. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the team of two-wheeled motorbike drivers.

However, the representative of the Department of Transport also emphasized that the City is currently seeking public opinions. If the proposal is not approved, it cannot be issued.