Hanoi (VNA) - Following HCM City’s lead, Hanoi authoritiesare installing fences along sidewalks in a pilot programme to prevent vehiclesfrom encroaching them.

The sight of motorbikes and cars climbing onto sidewalks toseek an alternative route during traffic jams has been common in Hanoi foryears. It not only endangers pedestrians but also destroys sidewalks which arenot designed for vehicles.

Fences have been erected along sidewalks on some streets indowntown Hanoi like Ton Duc Thang, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ngoc Hoi, Le Duan, and Dai CoViet over the past year. The measure aims to protect pedestrians and ensuretraffic order.

Nghiem Ngoc Tram, a resident living near Nguyen Thai Hoc streettold Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper that since the fenceswere installed, cars and motorbikes were unable to climb over the sidewalksaround Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam (The Temple of Literature).  

“My family totally supports the plan. Thanks to the fences,we feel more secure when kids and old people use the sidewalks as we don’t needto worry that motorbikes and cars will hit them,” she said.

Nguyen Hoang Hai, an expert on urban traffic said theinstallation of barriers to separate sidewalks from roads is a feasible measureto solve the problem.

“In some streets where the measure was adopted like Le Duanor Van Mieu, the result has been positive. The walking space was protected,creating the feeling of safety and comfort for pedestrians,” he said.

In a Hanoi People’s Council Q&A session on December 6,deputy Nguyen Huy Duoc proposed the same measure to restore sidewalk order.

However, some people warned that if the plan is expanded,some issues need to be taken into account.

Le Dung, a resident of Ton Duc Thang street told Kinh te& Do Thi (Economic & Urban Affairs) newspaper that thefences have caused obstacles for some people.

“In some places, the space between fences is not enough for awheelchair user to get through. Some shops along the street also facedifficulties as the barriers stop their customers accessing the shop andparking their vehicles,” he said.

Dinh Quoc Thai, an expert on urban traffic said fences shouldnot be installed on busy trading streets as it would harm people’s businesseswhich are their means of living.

“People would oppose the plan and even remove the fencesthemselves while authorities could hardly control it,” he said.

He suggested fences be installed on sidewalks mostly servingpedestrians or those near cultural spaces.

The installation should also be carefully considered so thatthe barricades do not obstruct wheelchairs and baby strollers, he said.

An alternative measure to replace fences is to increase theheight of the sidewalk’s edge so vehicles cannot climb them, he added.

Nguyen Hoang Hai agreed that this is not a one-size-fits-allsolution.

There should be city-wide surveys to decide which streets aresuitable and which are not.

On streets where fences are not the solution, authorities caninstall cameras to record violations and later apply strict punishments, hesaid.-VNA