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. 2022 Mar:24:101332.
doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2022.101332. Epub 2022 Jan 14.

The emergence of recreational cycling in Hanoi during the Covid-19 pandemic

Minh Hieu Nguyen  1 , Dorina Pojani  2
Affiliations

The emergence of recreational cycling in Hanoi during the Covid-19 pandemic

Minh Hieu Nguyen et al. J Transp Health. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined recreational cycling in Hanoi, Vietnam, with a particular focus on changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The research questions were: (1) Has recreational cycling increased during the Covid-19 pandemic?; (2) If so, what factors have led to the increase?; and (3) What are some of the typical traits and behaviors of recreational cyclists?

Method: Face-to-face surveys of 356 recreational cyclists were carried out in March-April 2021 in four areas of inner Hanoi. The survey data were modelled through two binary and one ordinal logit regression.

Results: Recreational cycling has become much more popular in Hanoi during the Covid-19 pandemic, with early morning being the preferred time for this activity (to avoid heavy traffic). A quarter of the participants had starting cycling recreationally since the first lockdown in April 2020, and about three quarters reported having noticed an increase in cycling activity around them. Nearly half of the participants cycled regularly (more than four times per week). The groups that were most likely to have taken up cycling for recreations during the pandemic included men, those living with children in the home, and those not working or studying. Age and income were not significant. People have been embracing cycling as a way to maintain or increase physical activity levels, and to safely socialize at the time when social gatherings are limited, walking is prohibited in some zones, and social distancing rules apply everywhere.

Conclusion: To sustain the growth in recreational cycling and widen the time-window for this activity while ensuring everyone's safety, Hanoi's planning and public health sectors should join forces to adopt a combination of 'hard' and 'soft' measures. The authors recommend creating multi-use paths for micromobility modes, launching a public bikesharing scheme, regulating motorised modes, and social marketing that promotes recreational cycling as trendy.

Keywords: Active transport; Covid-19 pandemic; Global south; Hanoi; Recreational cycling; Vietnam.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Survey areas. Photos by authors.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(a) To limit the spread of Covid-19, boardwalks are blocked to prevent walking and gatherings; (b) Motorised vehicles run along recreational cyclists on narrow roads; (c) Recreational cycling is a collective activity. Photos by authors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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