HCMC: First dedicated cycling lane to open to traffic this week

As of early December 28, the bicycle lanes on the sidewalks along both sides of Mai Chi Tho Boulevard have been largely completed, featuring asphalt surfacing and red markings.

The pilot project represents the city's first tangible step toward realizing its vision for sustainable transport.

Preliminary studies highlighted the urgent need for a safe, separated lane for cyclists, who currently share road space with motor vehicles—often at significant risk.

According to the Urban Traffic Management Center (under the Department of Construction), the cycling lane will extend nearly 5.8 kilometers, running from Nguyen Co Thach Street to D1 Street and back.

The two-meter-wide lane is positioned adjacent to the sidewalk and is designed to support cycling speeds of up to 20km/h. On bridges along the route, the lane will narrow to 1.5 meters.

Following the pilot phase, the city plans to extend the cycling lane by an additional 4 kilometers in 2026.

The proposed extensions include a segment from Nguyen Co Thach to Saigon River Park, and another from D1 Street to Vo Nguyen Giap Street, creating a direct link to An Phu Metro Station on the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien Line. The expanded route will also connect to An Phu Metro Station for multimodal commuting.

Mai Chi Tho Boulevard currently has 12 traffic lanes and sidewalks 5–6 meters wide, providing favorable conditions for the development of new cycling infrastructure.

So far, the city’s roads are motorbike-dominant, and cyclists have historically shared space with fast-moving vehicles, facing high safety risks. Hence, dedicated lanes signal a shift from recreational cycling toward commuting cycling, if the network continues to scale.