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Rapid bus system the right choice for Ho Chi Minh City: transport experts

Rapid bus system the right choice for Ho Chi Minh City: transport experts

Friday, April 29, 2016, 19:15 GMT+7

Transport experts in Ho Chi Minh City agreed that developing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is the right way for Ho Chi Minh City to ease traffic congestion during a seminar held on Wednesday by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The seminar “Will Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) ease traffic congestion?” was co-organized by Tuoi Tre and Vietnam-based Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO) at the newspaper’s headquarters in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Persistent lateness, the negative attitude of bus drivers and attendants, and reckless driving were named among the reasons bus riders in the city are slowly turning their back on public transport, according to Dau An Phuc, director at the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Public Transport Management and Administration.

According to Phung, after experiencing a steady rise from 2002 to 2013, the number of bus passengers in the city has gradually decreased.

‘Breakthrough’ with BRT system

Phuc raised the question of how to boost rider numbers and convince passengers to choose public transport over personal vehicles.

“It all comes down to punctuality, as most passengers depend on buses to commute to school or work,” Phuc said. “In order to improve punctuality, it is necessary to reserve a separate lane for buses, and BRT has long been a popular solution in developed countries. The first BRT line is already under construction in the city.”

Tran Quang Thang, director at the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Economics and Management, agreed with the statement, adding that BRT will be a fitting choice for Ho Chi Minh City in the coming years thanks to its speed, affordable fee, flexibility, and safety.

Dr. Pham Xuan Mai, from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, asserted that since most motorbike owners are from middle-income backgrounds or students who did not own cars, they may be willing to switch to BRT once it becomes more convenient than private vehicles.

He added that adopting the BRT system will reduce traffic congestion, consequently improving the punctuality of regular buses and attracting more passengers.

A BRT system needed

According to Dr. Mai, in order for the BRT system to become fully effective in a metropolis like Ho Chi Minh City, there must be a network of at least 25 BRT lines that can carry up to 2.8 million passengers daily, equivalent to 17.5 percent of the city’ travel demand.

If combined with the regular bus system, 32.5 percent of the city’s transport needs can be accommodated through buses, Dr. Mai estimated.

Pham Van Tai, standing deputy director at THACO, suggested that the BRT system be viewed as part of a bigger picture of comprehensive traffic solutions to truly assess its effectiveness in easing congestion in the city.

“The new rapid bus system will be very up-to-date. Passengers will use magnetic stripe cards to pay for bus tickets, and traffic lights will be designed to identify approaching BRT buses and switch to green, helping BRT buses travel faster,” he said.

The deputy director added it only takes 12 to 18 months to finish a BRT line, significantly shorter than the 10 or more years it can take to construct a metro line.

“If we don’t do it now, we may never be able to do it,” Dr. Mai stressed.

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