Falling bus use spurs concern over taxi apps and motorbike ban anxiety in Vietnam

Falling bus ridership in Hanoi has prompted concerns by public transport officials over ride-hailing apps and accusations that a city motorbike ban is unrealistic.

The director of Hanoi's Public Transport Management and Operation Centre Nguyen Hoang Hai said in an interview that increased ownership of personal vehicles and lower petrol prices were leading to an increase in use of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab. Forbes reported that despite investment in a new state-of-the-art bus system in Ho Chi Minh City, ridership is also falling there.

A transport planning academic Dr Vu Anh Tuan told them that plans to ban motorbikes by Hanoi were "unrealistic" and that planned new public transport lines would serve up to 18% of travel demand. He thinks bikes and public transport can co-exist with a park-and-ride system and better driving. 

It was also reported in Vietnam News that a new 23.5km expressway will be built in Ho Chi Minh City.