Elderly People Face Difficulties Using Public Bicycles in Hanoi?

Tháng 12

Elderly People Face Difficulties Using Public Bicycles in Hanoi?

Nearly one year after its launch, the public bicycle service in Hanoi, offering public bicycles for rent, has gained the attention and usage of many residents, especially younger ones. Renting public bikes has gradually become a habit for younger people, but the service still presents many challenges for the elderly.

Many people favor the public bicycle service because it meets two key demands: convenience and affordability. Along the major streets of Hanoi, bicycle stations are easy to spot on both sides of the road. Currently, nearly 80 bike stations are spread across the city, with over 1,000 bicycles and electric bikes available for rent.

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Changing Habits with Public Bicycles

The bicycle stations are strategically located near bus stops, parks, and tourist attractions. The rental price for an electric-assisted bicycle is 10,000 VND for 30 minutes, while a regular bicycle costs 5,000 VND. Due to its convenience, the demand for public bicycles has seen a significant increase since the service was launched.

According to a report by Dan Viet journalist on the morning of the same day, at bicycle stations on Phan Dinh Phung Street, Lang Street, and other areas, nearly half of the bikes were already in use. The public bike rental stations on many other streets also showed active usage. It’s clear that, after half a year, although not as crowded as it was during the initial launch, the service continues to enjoy strong support from the public.

At a bicycle station on Lang Street, the busiest times for rentals are from 6 to 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. onwards. Every 10 minutes, several people come to rent bikes for exercise or leisurely rides on the dedicated bike lanes.

Mrs. Ha Thi Dung (Cau Giay, Hanoi) shared that she frequently uses the electric-assisted bicycles available at this station, as it is conveniently located near bus stops.

“I just take the bus from home to here and then rent a bike to ride around, enjoy the breeze, and exercise. Before, I used to work out at home or walk around the alley, which became quite boring,” Mrs. Dung explained.

Like Mrs. Dung, Ms. Mai Linh (Thanh Xuan, Hanoi) is also accustomed to using the public bicycle service for commuting within the city. She mentioned that the ability to rent a bike at one station and return it at another makes the service even more convenient for users.

Using Public Bicycles in Hanoi

“This model is very suitable for people who frequently use public transportation. If it were mandatory to return the bike to the exact location where it was rented, it would be very inconvenient for people, as it would limit their mobility. Fortunately, this public bicycle service does not require that. I often walk from home to the station at Hoang Hoa Tham and return the bike to Phan Dinh Phung. Every day, I save quite a lot on fuel costs,” Ms. Linh added.

Elderly People Face Hesitations and Difficulties When Renting Bikes

For younger people, downloading an app to rent a bike and make a payment takes just a few minutes. However, for the elderly, this is often the main reason they hesitate or have never used the service.

Mrs. Nguyen Bich Nga (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi) expressed: “I often walk to exercise around the Hang Dau flower garden. I noticed there’s a public bicycle rental station here. I’d like to rent one to go to the market or nearby places for convenience. I’m curious, but I read that they require you to download an app and deposit money, and since I’m old and not tech-savvy, I decided not to try it.”

Elderly People Face Hesitations and Difficulties When Renting Bikes

To use this service, users need a smart device such as a smartphone or tablet to install the TNGo app—the official app for the public bicycle service in six provinces and cities. Only after registering an account and topping up their balance can users unlock the bicycle they wish to rent.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoan (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi) has only rented a public bike once because he is not familiar with using smartphones. Mr. Hoan shared: “I do have a smartphone, but I asked my children to show me how to rent a bike and see if it’s difficult. Unfortunately, after they showed me, I forgot. I tried once when I was exercising with my grandchild. If I go alone, I just walk around with the elderly people in this neighborhood.”

It is known that the public bicycle service offers various ticket options, including single-ride tickets, daily tickets, monthly passes, and prepaid tickets for customers who need them. However, it still requires a smartphone to scan the code and unlock the bike.

Ms. Nguyen Bich Loc (Cau Giay, Hanoi) shared that elderly individuals, their children, or grandchildren can help them register an account and guide them through the steps. Ms. Loc believes that the bike rental app is not too difficult to use, but elderly people who do not have a smartphone, are at a disadvantage because they cannot access the service.

Many residents believe that, in addition to the convenience and environmental benefits, the service still has some limitations, such as the fact that the bikes can only carry one person, electric bikes may run out of battery during use, and the requirement for a smartphone. Furthermore, the bike stations lack shelters, leaving the bikes exposed to rain or sun, which makes it difficult to maintain optimal working conditions for the bikes.