HCM City to build bus-only lanes in 2017

The HCM City Department of Transport in the first quarter of this year will finish mapping out a plan to build bus-only lanes on some roads to improve public transit services.

The streets to be chosen for the plan include Truong Chinh, Vo Thi Sau, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Nguyen Van Troi, Dien Bien Phu and Pham Van Dong.

There would be three options for implementing the plan. The first option is buses would share the motorcycle lane. 

In the second option, buses would be given priority to use a car lane on some roads and the final option would allow buses to travel and pick up commuters on the left lane of one-way roads.

A bus in HCM city. (Otopro)
A bus in HCM city. (Otopro)

According to the department, the plan is aimed at making it easy, convenient and fast for buses to negotiate increasingly crowded roads in the city. 

The number of public bus commuters in HCM City has been in decline due to poor services, so setting up bus-only lanes would help improve the situation.

Data of the HCM City Public Passenger Transport Management and Operation Center showed that last year saw a fall of 84,000 bus trips with some 3.4 million passengers.

Pham Sanh, a traffic expert, said it is feasible to build bus-only lanes on a couple of wide roads such as Vo Van Kiet, Dien Bien Phu and Pham Van Dong.

However, for downtown streets, it would prove difficult to design lanes for buses only. The city government should restrict private vehicle traffic in inner-city areas before bus-only lanes are built there, Sanh noted. 

Saigontimes

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.