More public bikes proposed for downtown HCMC

The Center proposed to the HCMC Department of Transport that the bike stations, each with 10-20 bikes, are added to Nguyen Hue Street and Ben Thanh Market as part of a traffic organization plan to accommodate the No.1 metro line (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien).

The locations for the stations would be next to the entrance of Ben Thanh Station, in front of a mall construction site on Tran Hung Dao Street, at a corner of 23/9 park, in front of the Saigontourist Co., the Fahasa bookstore, the Sunwah building, and near the Bach Dang Wharf Park.

The areas are all in downtown HCMC, where services and commercial and cultural activities often take place, and also where public transport hubs, like buses, are located.

The Center said these areas already have eight public bike stations, with some stations being in particularly high demand, especially during the weekends. More coverage of the public bike network would therefore help locals and tourists to get around more easily and access other methods of public transport, such as buses and metro lines.

HCMC’s public bike system has been deployed since the end of 2021, with around 400 bikes in 43 stations on several sidewalks in District 1. Each station spans 10-15 square meters and allows 10-20 bikes. The stations are near bus stations, parks and tourist destinations.

The bikes are equipped with smart locks, GPS and Bluetooth, among other functions. They can be rented for VND5,000 (21 cents) for 30 minutes.

Besides public bikes, the Center is also proposing the usage of electric buses for public transport. Right now, the city is carrying out a trial operation of an electric bus route connecting District 1 and the Vinhomes Grand Park urban area in Thu Duc City.