Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) traffic police have fined over 100 motorcyclists for illegally entering a dedicated bicycle lane on Mai Chi Tho street. This enforcement action comes just one week after the lane's inauguration in Thu Duc City. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Binh, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Department, announced this information at a socio-economic press conference on the afternoon of 8/1.

Motorcycles encroaching on the dedicated bicycle lane (red) on Mai Chi Tho street, morning of 6/1. Photo: Dinh Van

The dedicated bicycle lane, located on Mai Chi Tho street in An Khanh ward, was introduced to promote cycling. Following its implementation, authorities intensified public awareness campaigns and issued reminders to ensure compliance. However, deliberate violations continue, prompting traffic police to increase patrols and enforcement to improve traffic discipline.

To address these ongoing issues, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Department plans to collaborate with the Department of Construction. Together, they will review and reorganize traffic flow to better suit actual conditions. This includes studying time-based traffic diversion strategies and installing soft dividers in narrow sections of the lane where motorcycles frequently encroach.

Lieutenant Colonel Binh emphasized the pioneering nature of the project. "Ho Chi Minh City is the first locality to implement a dedicated bicycle lane, so the initial phase requires close monitoring and timely adjustments", he stated. Currently, motorcyclists found violating the dedicated bicycle lane face a fine of 700,000 VND, as stipulated by Decree 168.

The dedicated bicycle lane on Mai Chi Tho street spans 5.8 km and is 2 m wide. It features distinct coloring and separate signage. The project, inaugurated on 31/12/2025, represented a total investment of approximately 14.2 billion VND. Despite these efforts, frequent encroachment by motorcyclists has reduced the lane's operational effectiveness.