HÀ NỘI — "The role of bicycle transportation in the city and international experiment exchange and how to apply it in Việt Nam" was the theme of an international seminar as part of the ongoing 5th Vietnam International Bicycle Exhibition or Vietnam Cycle 2016 held in Hà Nội.

The event, which took place on Thursday, showed the Government’s interest in using bicycles in transport development, said Vice Chairman of the Việt Nam Auto, Motorcycle and Bicycle Association Nguyễn Hữu Sơn.
At the seminar, Lionel Bayard, Export and Marketing Manager of France’s Peugeot Cycles shared the experience of the French government in encouraging citizens to use bicycles.
France reduced taxes for those who cycle to work, offered free bicycles or assistance on bicycle routes and required new buildings to provide bicycle parking, he said.
A pilot project on public bicycles in Hà Nội, BK-BIKE, was introduced at the event.
Phạm Tuấn Hiệp, Director of BK-BIKE, said the project will pilot bicycle renting stations at the Hà Nội University of Science and Technology in 2016.
It is expected to test replacing motorbikes in the next two years with 1,500 bicycles and 50 public transport stations. The project will be expanded to Hà Nội’s central districts with 400 stations and 12,000 bicycles by 2020.
Nguyễn Huy Tiến, Deputy Head of Environment Department under the Ministry of Transport, suggested launching policies to upgrade infrastructure for bicycles.
Programmes and campaigns on using bicycles among the public should be implemented with government institutes as pioneers, he said

The Vietnam Cycle 2016 features 150 booths of 50 manufacturers from the United Kingdom, France, Italia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China and Việt Nam.

The exhibition brings together various domestic and international brands such as Thống Nhất, Bamboo Bike, Việt Long, Giant, Galaxy and Phoenix.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sơn said that the event aimed to increase the use of bicycles and promote green energy in big cities.

It would also offer a chance for businesses to promote trade and seek distributors, he said. — VNS