The majority of respondents in a small survey cite jostling among passengers on buses as the leading cause for them not to use the vehicles when traveling in Ho Chi Minh City.

>> An audio version of the story is available here

The survey has been conducted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on 100 people in 19 districts in the city regarding the positives and negatives of taking the bus.

Of these people, 50 have been using buses as their daily means of transport while the remaining 50 have yet to use the vehicles.

The survey is aimed at identifying problems facing the development of bus operations as statistics reveal that the number of people using buses is falling. 

Jostling cited as main cause

Seventy-seven percent of the respondents said that jostling or pushing on buses alongside evils like pick-pocketing discourages them from taking a bus. 

Sixty-six percent of those polled replied that going by bus often makes them late for work as a result of spending a lot of time waiting at stations.

Fifty percent said buses do not offer high mobility of travel while motorbikes do.

Inconvenient routes and stations with unfavorable conditions also deter people from getting on buses, forty-one percent of the respondents said.

Meanwhile, 29 percent of the people surveyed thought buses often do not ensure safety for passengers at pick-up or drop-off.

Going by bus costs less

Regarding the convenience of going by bus, 77 percent of the respondents said this means of transport costs them less than motorbikes.

Seventy-six percent said going by bus helps them avoid inconvenience caused by sunny or rainy weather, while 56 percent believed this means of public transport offers “less exposure to traffic accidents” than motorbikes.

Meanwhile, 51 percent underlined that going by bus gives them a “health benefit” as they are not exposed to smoke, dust or other undesirable things, which would confront them when traveling on motorbikes.

92% say bikes make them more active

As much as 92 percent of the respondents said going by motorbike helps them to be more active and avoid the tardiness associated with traveling by bus.

Seventy-four percent said traveling on bikes gives them a high level of mobility, as they can do many things during one time of travel.

Meanwhile, 59 percent said that bikes allow them access to narrow lanes or streets.

Also notable was the fact that 71 percent said that traveling on bikes may cause more health problems than going by bus.

In addition, 64 percent thought going by bike may expose them to more risks of road accidents or street robberies compared to buses.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!