Encroaching on Ho Chi Minh City’s first bicycle-only lanes faces fines of up to $230

On Monday, traffic police units intensified patrols and inspections along the city’s first bicycle-only thoroughfare, targeting motorbikes and cars that entered the lanes despite clear road markings and signage.

Running in both directions along Mai Chi Tho Street, the lanes stretch about 5.8 kilometers from the intersection with Nguyen Co Thach Street to the crossroads with D1 Street and are two meters wide on road sections, narrowing to 1.5 meters on bridge sections.

During one patrol, officers stopped B.K.D., a 38-year-old resident of Binh Khanh Commune, for riding a motorbike in the bicycle-only lane.

He was issued a violation record for using an improper section of road or lane under Article 7 of Government Decree 168/2024, an offense punishable by a fine of VND600,000-800,000 ($23–30).

For car drivers, the same violation carries a heavier penalty, with fines ranging from VND4 million ($152) to VND6 million ($228), along with a two-point deduction from the driver’s license.

D. told officers that he entered the lane after seeing it was empty and said he was unaware that it was reserved exclusively for bicycles.

Traffic police noted that many other violators offered similar explanations, with some claiming they had failed to notice traffic signs for the recently inaugurated lane.

After issuing fines, officers stressed that the bicycle lane is clearly delineated by painted road symbols and signage and is intended to enhance traffic safety, particularly for cyclists.

Earlier observations by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters showed that the bicycle-only lanes are frequently encroached upon by motorbikes, especially during morning and evening rush hours.

Motorcyclists were often seen traveling at relatively high speeds within the lane, forcing cyclists to move closer to the curb.

In some sections, cars were also observed stopping or parking across the bicycle lane.

T.Q.N., a resident of An Khanh Ward who regularly cycles along the route for both exercise and commuting, said the dedicated bicycle lane is a welcome improvement but is often rendered ineffective by widespread encroachment.

He added that motorbikes sometimes crowd the bicycle lane more densely than adjacent lanes, creating dangerous situations when vehicles pass cyclists at close range.

Many road users believe the problem largely stems from limited awareness and weak compliance with traffic regulations among some drivers.

Currently, numerous motorcyclists continue to deliberately enter the bicycle lanes to bypass congestion, particularly during peak hours, apparently disregarding road markings and traffic signs designating the lanes for bicycles.

The plastic-concrete bicycle lanes were opened to traffic on December 31, 2025, after more than two months of construction, with a total investment of VND12.7 billion ($483,000).