It has been increasingly difficult for people in Ho Chi Minh City to find parking space for their bicycles as many parking lots have been turning their back on cyclists.

Most of these parking venues are privately owned.  

On Saturday afternoon, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters traveled on their bikes to a parking lot on the sidewalk corner of Le Duan and Ton Duc Thang Streets in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, which is managed by TVT, a private parking service company.

Despite having several empty slots, attendants at the venue refused to take in the bicycles.

According to T., a local motorbike taxi driver, the parking lot only offers service to motorcyclists.

At another place on Ly Tu Trong Street in the same District, about 500 meters away, a similar situation could also be observed.

Despite stating that they would only park their bikes for 30 minutes and that they would pay the same cost as motorbikes, the reporters were still turned down by the parking attendants.

It has been quite a challenge to find a parking slot for bicycles in the southern city these days, especially in downtown areas, where searching for a motorbike park is already a difficulty.

L.V.H., living in District 10, who often cycles to the city center, said that it was hard to keep such a habit due to the situation.

According to Vo Quoc Hung, vice-chairman of the People’s Committee in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, about 200 parking lots have been registered in the neighborhood.

There is no regulation stating that they can only offer service to motorcycles, Hung said.

Local officers will be tasked with reminding these facilities to remove the groundless ban on bicycles, the official continued.

“We will convene a meeting with operators of these parking lots to discuss the problem,” Hung added.

Tran The Thuan, chairman of the administration in District 1, asserted that all parking venues must receive all two-wheeled vehicles, including bicycles.

Local authorities have been encouraging citizens to cycle in a bid to protect the environment, Thuan continued.

“The operators of these parking lots have only focused on their profit. We will carry out an inspection and solve the issue,” the chairman said.