Hanoi’s dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes will soon open to public buses, allowing these vehicles to make use of road space exclusively reserved for the capital’s fledgling BRT system.
According to VnExpress, Hanoi’s Urban Transport Management and Operation Center plans to give public buses access to the traffic lanes as part of a six-month trial set to begin in June. The center’s director, Nguyen Hoang Hai, has requested city officials approve the change in an effort to maximize use of Hanoi’s BRT lanes without interrupting the new transport system’s schedule.
Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung of the Hanoi People’s Committee has since approved public bus use of the exclusive BRT lane, VietnamNet reports, however not everyone is thrilled by the idea. Some transportation experts are concerned that public buses will cause congestion in the dedicated traffic lanes, according to VnExpress, a problem the BRT system also struggled to combat during its initial launch, as motorists often crowded the lane reserved for BRT vehicles.
Since its debut late last year, the US$53.6 million BRT system has received mixed reviews from local residents. Although daily ridership on the capital’s two BRT routes has risen from 8,000 at the start to 13,000, according to Hai of the Urban Transport Management and Operation Center, the BRT system continues to run at half its 90-person capacity, averaging around 42.4 riders per trip, reports VietnamNet.
Still, Vu Van Vien, director of the city’s Department of Transport, believes ridership on the new system will continue to grow, according to Tuoi Tre. Hanoi also has plans to develop eight similar BRT lines for the capital, while Saigon is working on a BRT system of its own.
Moving forward, part of the challenge for Hanoi’s new BRT system may be winning over hearts and minds. In a recent article in The Guardian, local residents complained of the exclusive BRT lanes contributing to traffic congestion, as private vehicles were forced to squeeze into the remaining lanes during rush hour. The flexibility of traveling by private vehicle also meant many Hanoians were uninterested in opting for public transportation, the news outlet noted.
[Photo via VnExpress]
