"Medicine" to treat sidewalk encroachment

Encroachment on sidewalks for business and trading purposes has long become an incurable disease, not only in Hai Duong City but also in many urban areas across the country. What "medicine" can specifically cure this disease?

It is undeniable that Hai Duong City and some other localities in Hai Duong have made efforts to manage urban order, including drastic solutions to restore the open space of the streets such as prohibiting people from trading and doing business on the sidewalks. However, the situation of sidewalk encroachment causing traffic congestion, loss of aesthetics, obstruction and danger to pedestrians is still common.

Dien Bien Phu Street, where my family lives, has many sidewalks encroached upon for car washes and sales. The encroached sidewalks force people to walk on the street, and some people have had accidents due to being hit by motorbikes. Recently, passing Ly Thuong Kiet Street, I saw a household encroaching on the entire sidewalk in front of their house to sell breakfast. Customers' motorbikes and cars were parked on the street, making it difficult for vehicles to pass. Vendors also washed dishes and poured dirty water into the open drainage ditch right next to them... Unsightly scenes like these on these two streets are not uncommon.

Solving the problem of sidewalk encroachment is not easy when it is becoming a place for a large number of people to earn a living. The penalties prescribed by law for these acts are not enough of a deterrent. Inspections and handling of violations have not been carried out regularly and continuously, sometimes like "kidnapping and abandoning the plate". Last month, several sidewalk vendors on Do Ngoc Du Street had their stalls dismantled by the authorities, and all their business equipment was confiscated. However, after only a few days, the stalls were back in operation...

I am very impressed that many streets in the two cities of Bac Ninh and Ha Tinh are airy and clean, and the situation of sidewalks being occupied for trading and business is rare. My friend in these two cities said that people are regularly propagandized, raising awareness and responsibility in maintaining security and order, landscape, environment, especially not to encroach on sidewalks for private purposes. Local leaders regularly go to the grassroots to inspect and remind people. Organizations in residential areas establish self-management teams, clearly assigning tasks to participate in maintaining security and order according to each specific street address. Households are responsible for monitoring and mobilizing each other to implement. Functional forces of wards and cities periodically patrol. Violations are strictly handled such as confiscation of vehicles, goods, fines, and naming on local loudspeakers.

Ha Tinh City still allows people to use sidewalks on certain streets to sell soft drinks and outdoor food. However, business owners are not allowed to sell during rush hour, must pay environmental cleaning fees, ensure security and order, and must reserve space for pedestrians. Traffic is therefore not congested, and the environment is still protected.

Good experiences from other provinces can also be solutions for other city governments to refer to, including our Hai Duong city.

DAWN