Geonnam Han · Yeeun Lee
Abstract
The research that collaborated with FTU (Foreign Trade University) students in Vietnam, was focused on the air pollution problem in Hanoi. This city has one of the worst air quality in the world and by industrialization, it is getting worse. The main causes are old vehicles, conventional stoves and industrial facilities. In Particular, we tried to convert from the private motorbikes which account for a large portion of air pollutant emissions to public transportation. Both poor road conditions due to old and dense urban structures, and inaccessible public transportation system were found to discourage public transportation use and increase private vehicle use. By improving the overall situation, it is necessary to enhance the competitiveness of public transportation and contribute to both its revitalization and solving the problem. We and FTU students brought up the five solutions by comparing the Vietnamese and Korean public transportation system. Replace buses with electric buses to reduce air pollution emissions. Create comfortable bus stops with arrival notification services and CCTV. Adjust flexible bus dispatch interval to meet demand concentrated at certain times. Install STOP signs to ensure the safety of passengers boarding and alighting from buses in complicated traffic situations. Change tickets to reusable electric bus cards for management cost saving and effectively system reform using data. We supposed that these proposals will help to reduce costs, to increase efficiency, and to improve usability. To recognize the severity of the problem and to estimate the possibility of the proposed solution, we conducted field research and interviews in Hanoi. While there was general agreement that it would improve use, the answers included some doubt that it would have a direct impact on improving air quality. Further research is needed to demonstrate the impact of increased ridership on air pollutant emissions. This thesis needs to keep developing and discussing air pollution, a global problem with the detailed 11.2 and 11.6 of the 11th of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Keywords: Hanoi, Air Pollution, Public Transport, Road Traffic Law, UN SDGs