Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Passenger bus network have been developed extensively in districts, wards andtowns to encourage people to use public transport to avoid traffic congestionas well as help the environment. But it still fails to attract more passengers.

The main reason for such problem is lack ofconnectivity, according to transport experts.

At a transport workshop held in Hanoi recently,experts said the city should launch minibus networks in order to reducetransit, including shortening the distance from passengers’ homes to bus stops,limiting traffic jams, accidents and attract more users.

Deputy General Director of the Hanoi TransportServices Corporation (Transerco), Nguyen Cong Nhat, said in 2017, the busnetwork covers all 30 districts, wards and towns. This year, the company wouldfocus on increasing connectivity for the urban transport network, he said.

However, with the network of large and mediumbuses, many people could not access them. Commuters from many areas have towalk 2-3km to get a bus.

“Although the network has expanded, many peoplestill find it hard to use this service,” Nhat told Kinh Te&Do Thi (Economy& Urban Affairs) newspaper.

Luong Ngoc Thanh, a resident living in Hanoi’sThanh Xuan district, said she had to wake up early to get a bus on time.

“I have to do everything quickly in the morningsto go to bus station on time because it is far from my home, about 1.2km,”Thanh said.

“I can not drive a motorbike so the bus is stillmy best option although I have to walk quite far. But many people gave up thisservice because it wastes much time.”

Thanh is one of many people living in the smallstreets of Hanoi and has to walk far to get to a bus stop. With thisinconvenience, many people now choose other vehicles.

Agreeing with Nhat, Dr Pham Hoai Trung from the TransportDevelopment Strategy Institute, said the development of buses, includingminibus was suitable for some big cities which are now having to deal withcongestion and overload.

"The minibus model has been used in manycountries around the world. The advantage of the minibus is its high mobility.It can go to many narrow streets while the existing bus network cannot. And theminibus will help solve the problem of the fund for transportation which is inserious shortage in Hanoi and other big cities," said Trung.

According to transport expert Pham Sanh, theroads in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are too small.

HCM City has more than 4,000 roads but the roadwith a width of 7m or more only accounts for 30 percent.

In Hanoi, the coverage of the bus network isapproximately 70 percent with a lack of connection to residential areas and newurban areas, even lack of stations. The rate of passengers using bus is stilllow, around 10 percent in both cities.

Experts said the development of minibuses whichcan carry up to 16 passengers was necessary.

Dr Tran Huu Minh, Vice Chairman of the NationalTraffic Safety Committee, said the difficulty of the bus as well as the minibuswas the competition with private cars, taxi and Grab bikes.

"Vietnam’s motor vehicle ownership is 600vehicles per 1,000 people. Meanwhile buses are also struggling with privatecars. With the current motorcycle, the bus is in weak competition," Minhtold Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

Sanh said Hanoi and HCM City authorities shouldcarefully survey and calculate scientifically in launching minibus. The citiesshould conduct a pilot project to gain social support.

Earlier, HCM City Public Passenger TransportManagement and Operation Centre proposed investment in 210 minibuses totransport passengers from narrow alleys to wider streets where they can takebuses.

However, experts say the city authority shouldcarefully consider the feasibility of such an investment because of thepressure on the city’s state budget.-VNS/VNA