Electric skateboards are a hot item in HCM City and the pedestrianised Nguyen Hue street has become popular place for young people and kids to try out new tricks. However, it has bothered and annoyed other people.
Electric skateboards are a hot item in HCM City
Tan, a volunteer to regulate traffic in this area said many people lacked awareness about their surroundings. He even saw parents carrying small children while riding on the skateboards. Some people line up horizontally then wave through packed crowds like it was empty space or start to race.
Thanh, a local who often exercises on Nguyen Hue Street, said, "An electric skateboard can reach speeds of 15 to 20 kilometres per hour, almost as fast as an electric bike but does not have handlebars. When I tried to warn them to be careful, they glared and told me I was 'crazy'."
Several locals also expressed worry that there might be accidents caused by unskilled or careless riders, especially when young people already took their skateboards onto the busy streets like Ton Duc Thang or Le Thanh Ton.
Local Nguyen Dang Khoa said they were protective of Nguyen Hue Street because this is the first street in HCM City dedicated to pedestrians and were against littering or even street vendors.
Nguyen Van Ninh, head of urban traffic management board in area 1, said they would consider establishing another area specifically for skateboard users.
Doan Ngoc Hai, vice chairman of District 1, was more stern, saying that they had asked electric skateboard providers to not set up rental shops near the street. They also asked local security teams to patrol and prevent riders from entering the street. They had reported to the city people's committee and proposed to ban electric skateboard from Nguyen Hue Street.
"We are drafting a set of penalties to completely end this problem," he said.
