The draft requiring motorbike taxi drivers to transport passengers and goods to have a license issued by Hanoi city is widely soliciting public opinion. If approved, this regulation will be applied as early as 2024.
Passengers benefit if motorbike taxi operations are tightly managed
Motorbike taxi is the activity of transporting passengers by motorbike. This is considered a service that is close to the needs of the people because of its benefits, such as affordable prices, mobility, easy access...
In big cities like Hanoi, passenger transport services (motorbike taxis - PV) by motorbike have two basic models, including technology-based motorbike taxis (using ride-hailing apps) and traditional motorbike taxis (operating freely or organized but not using ride-hailing apps).
Technology motorbike taxis are managed by businesses that develop ride-hailing applications, in which information about drivers, vehicles, routes, fares, etc. are made public for customers to know. In addition, customers have the right to report to the management unit if they encounter any problems during the use of the service, ensuring their own rights.
In contrast, traditional motorbike taxis operate freely, fares are negotiated between drivers and passengers when needed. Traditional motorbike taxis usually operate in a specific area, such as bus stations, or outside the gates of hospitals, schools, buildings, etc.
"In current road traffic, motorbike taxi drivers are among the group of subjects with a high rate of violations. The main violations are running red lights, carrying passengers without helmets, covering license plates, driving in the wrong direction...", Captain Duong Quyet Tam, officer of Special Task Force No. 3, Hanoi City Police, assessed.
When motorbike taxi drivers violate traffic laws, potentially causing accidents, the rights and safety of passengers sitting behind are affected.
According to the authorities, the handling of violations related to motorbike taxis is being stepped up. However, the dissemination of the law is still limited, especially for traditional motorbike taxis.
"Road Traffic Police Team No. 6 regularly invites motorbike taxi drivers operating around My Dinh bus station and Ring Road 3 to propagate traffic safety laws and safe driving skills, especially during peak periods, holidays and Tet.
During the propaganda session, officers and soldiers of the unit used images of accidents and specific violations to help drivers see the level of danger. After each propaganda session, drivers signed a commitment not to violate traffic laws. However, compared to the number of motorbike taxis operating in the area today, the number of people participating in the propaganda sessions is not high," said Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chien - Captain of Road Traffic Police Team No. 6 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police).
Regarding the proposal that motorbike taxi drivers must have a "practice card" when operating, Major Nguyen Duc Tuyen - an officer of Road Traffic Police Team No. 2, shared with reporters that this regulation will help ensure the rights of passengers, and the control of authorities will also be tighter.
According to Major Tuyen, currently many motorbike taxi drivers, although not working for ride-hailing companies, still wear uniforms and use the companies' hats, which can cause confusion for passengers, especially the elderly who are not tech-savvy, leading to situations such as price gouging...
Support if the procedure is not complicated
At bus stations in Hanoi, there are many motorbike taxi drivers, most of whom come from other provinces to work.
Sharing with reporters, Mr. Hoa (a long-time motorbike taxi driver) operating around Hoang Mai district said that if he understood technology, he would definitely switch to driving for car companies.
"Most of the motorbike taxi drivers at bus stations and train stations are middle-aged, earning more than a hundred thousand a day, and when they are tired, they rest, not depending on anyone. If the city requires drivers to wear a professional badge in the future, we will fully support it. But we hope that the procedures will not be too complicated and time-consuming," Mr. Hoa shared.
On the side of the bus station management unit, Mr. Tran Manh Ha - Deputy Director of Giap Bat Bus Station also completely agrees with the proposal that motorbike taxi drivers must wear professional badges, be assigned pick-up points... This helps to form a team of motorbike taxi drivers operating professionally, civilly, and security and order are ensured...
According to a representative of the Hanoi Department of Transport, the above regulation is still in the consultation phase, and if it does not receive public consensus, it cannot be issued.
