After nearly three months of construction, the priority bicycle lane, stretching nearly 6 km along both sides of Mai Chi Tho boulevard (formerly Thu Duc city), is complete and scheduled for use tomorrow. This section of the road is 2 m wide, connecting Nguyen Co Thach street to D1 street, with a maximum speed of 20 km/h. The surface features distinguishing lines, and in specific areas like bridges and intersections, the entire surface is painted red to enhance visibility.

Red paint on the dedicated bicycle lane on Mai Chi Tho street. Photo: Quynh Tran

Doan Van Tan, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Traffic Management Center, the project investor, stated that this is a pilot priority lane, not yet a fully dedicated bicycle lane. Due to infrastructure limitations, the bicycle lane cannot be completely separated from cars and motorbikes in some sections, such as bridges and intersections.

Painting these potentially conflicting areas a reddish-brown color aims to improve recognition for vehicle operators, reduce confusion, and enhance safety for cyclists.

Cyclists riding on the red lane on Mai Chi Tho street. Photo: Quynh Tran

According to Tan, the decision to paint the bicycle lane red follows guidelines from the Department of Technical Infrastructure, part of the Ministry of Construction. Red is more prominent than white, yellow, or black, and is often used for road markings, paint, and directional signs, helping drivers easily identify it from a distance. Many countries also use reddish-brown, alongside green and blue, to differentiate road lanes.

Previously, Ho Chi Minh City applied reddish-brown paint, combined with flashing lights and signs, at pedestrian crossings in many areas around schools and residential zones to increase visibility. Additionally, some bus stops in the city center are painted reflective blue, helping passengers easily identify them and alerting other vehicles not to stop or park.

Parents guiding children across Nguyen Binh Khiem street, former District 1, in front of an elementary school, where the crossing is painted reddish-brown combined with white. Photo: Giang Anh

The project to upgrade and open a priority lane for bicycles on Mai Chi Tho boulevard cost nearly 13 billion VND. This is the city's first pilot lane, implemented to meet residents' needs and encourage the use of environmentally friendly transport. The route will also connect with the bus and metro systems, contributing to public transport development and moving towards a green city.

Following the pilot phase, the city will extend the Mai Chi Tho bicycle lane through to Vo Nguyen Giap street, connecting directly to An Phu metro station. Concurrently, Nguyen Co Thach street will also be upgraded to establish a two-way bicycle lane, from the Mai Chi Tho intersection to the Saigon riverside park. Once completed, the Mai Chi Tho bicycle network will connect residential areas, parks, and entertainment complexes such as Sala, New City, and The Sun Avenue with the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line.

Giang Anh - Dinh Van