Hanoi Launches Pilot Program for 2 Exclusive Bike Routes

The first bike lane will be located along the To Lich River, stretching from So Junction to Cau Giay Junction. This 2.3km-long lane, currently 4m wide, is planned to be renovated into a 3m-wide bicycle lane and a 1m-wide pedestrian lane.

The Hanoi Department of Transport considers this route to be highly promising, as it connects to Lang Station (part of the elevated Cat Linh – Ha Dong railway) and Station 8 of the Nhon – Hanoi Metro Line. Along this route, there are 6 bus stops, providing convenient access to public transportation. Additionally, 6 public bike stations are proposed to be added along the route.

The second pilot lane will encircle Hoa Binh Park and Hoang Minh Thao Street in Bac Tu Liem District. The sidewalk around Hoa Binh Park spans over 1.8km and is 7m wide, meeting the requirements for organizing bike lanes. By repairing the sidewalk, a dedicated 3m-wide bike lane can be established, providing a priority lane for two-way bike traffic.

The budget for the two pilot routes is nearly 10 billion VND, funded by the state budget. Specifically, the To Lich River route will cost 970 million VND, while the Hoa Binh Park and Hoang Minh Thao Street route will cost 8.8 billion VND.

Although bicycles and public bike services have been introduced in Hanoi, the absence of dedicated lanes for these modes of transportation remains a challenge. Thus, the implementation of these necessary routes aims to promote the use of bicycles as an environmentally-friendly and health-beneficial means of transport.

Thái Son (Tuoitrethudo)

Photo: OFFB