Green buses roll out in HCMC

HO CHI MINH CITY, 6 July 2012: The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Transport Cooperatives rolled out, Tuesday, eight green buses, including two buses to accommodate disabled passengers who use wheelchairs.

The union director, Phung Dang Hai, said: “The company paid a South Korean firm US$718.5 million to import all eight buses, which will be used on routes from An Suong Bus Station in District 12 to the Agriculture and Forestry University in Thu Duc district.”

“The  buses not only run on compressed natural gas, but also have wider doors, adjustable floors that can be lowered to street-level, and seats specially designed for disabled passengers that need to use wheelchairs. It’s a first for the city and country,” he said.

The city has nearly 50 buses fueled by compressed natural gas. One route runs from Ben Thanh Market to the Western Bus Station, and another from the Hang Xanh roundabout in Binh Thanh district to Dai Nam Tourism Area in Binh Duong province that borders the city.

“The department will build, or import, 1,680 new buses by 2015 and will prioritise disabled-friendly buses, which it hopes will account for 5% to 10% of all public buses by 2020.”

None of its current fleet of buses can accommodate disabled passengers.