Sidewalk driving declines in Ho Chi Minh City on account of heftier fines
Friday, January 10, 2025, 16:04 GMT+7
Ho Chi Minh City has seen a major shift in traffic behavior over the past few days, with sidewalks that were once clogged with motorcycles now clear of moving vehicles.
The transformation followed the enactment of Decree 168, which took effect on January 1, and stipulates new administrative penalties for road traffic violations.
As per the decree, riders who ride on the sidewalk shall be fined VND4-6 million (US$157-236), a tenfold increase from the previous regulations.
The effects of the new fines are particularly noticeable at traffic hotspots, such as Phan Van Tri Street in Go Vap District, where sidewalks which were once crowded with moving vehicles during rush hour are now free of traffic.
Prior to the fine increase, the local sidewalks were chaotic.
“During rush hours, people would ride on the sidewalk in long lines. It made me fear for my safety,” said Le Thanh Long, a 51-year-old security guard at a coffee shop on Phan Van Tri Street.
“The noise from honking was constant, and it was impossible for customers to get their motorcycles to move in and out."
Now, with the new penalties, the sidewalk is quiet and vehicles stick to the road.
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| A security employee at a coffee shop on Phan Van Tri Street in Go Vap Street shares that the sidewalk along the street has been clear of moving motorcycles for the past week. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
Similarly, on Quang Trung Street, another hotspot for traffic jams in Go Vap District, sidewalk riding violations have dropped substantially.
Previously, motorcyclists would use the sidewalk to bypass gridlock, often damaging it in the process. Now, such behavior is rare.
According to Nghia, a member of a youth volunteer team responsible for traffic control on Quang Trung Street, drivers used to speed through red lights, but now, given the heftier fines, they wait patiently.
In Tan Binh District, the notorious traffic congestion on Cong Hoa Street has similarly seen a reduction in sidewalk violations.
The shift in behavior is also noticeable on other streets across the city, including Hoang Sa, Nguyen Binh Khiem, and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia.
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| A view of the sidewalk of Quang Trung Street in Go Vap District at rush hour on January 9, 2025. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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| In spite of traffic congestion, no motorcyclists ride on the sidewalk to escape a long traffic line. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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| Motorcyclists wait at a red light on a street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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| The sidewalk along Cong Hoa Street in Tan Binh Street is free of motorcycles. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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| No motorcycles take the risk of riding on the sidewalk of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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| On several streets in downtown Ho Chi Minh City such as Nguyen Binh Khiem, motorcyclists no longer ride on sidewalks. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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| The sidewalk of Bach Dang Street in Tan Binh District is free of motorcycles despite traffic congestion. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre |
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