People occupy sidewalks to operate car wash business in Vinh City

(Baonghean.vn) - Besides the encroachment of sidewalks for trading, car washing on the sidewalk is also a problem that causes frustration for people and makes Vinh city's urban beauty unsightly.

People invest in tools and equipment to wash cars on the sidewalk. Photo: Thanh Tam.

Nguyen Sy Sach Street, the section running through Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City, currently has many car washes on the sidewalk. The section from Nguyen Phong Sac Street to Tue Tinh Street, about 300 meters long, also has up to 10 car washes on the sidewalk.

The situation of washing cars on the sidewalk has significantly affected traffic participants when passing through this section of the road. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly, over 70 years old, often walks through this section of the road to go to the market and exercise. Ms. Ly said: “I am old and cannot ride a bike anymore, so every day I walk to go to the market and exercise here. When they wash the car, they spray water on me and other passersby, I have to walk on the road, which is very dangerous. The car washes discharge water onto the road, sometimes I have to walk in the middle of the road to avoid puddles.”

Car washing on the sidewalk blocks the pedestrian path. Photo: Thanh Tam.

The encroachment of sidewalks to wash cars and motorbikes not only obstructs pedestrians' passage, but the sand and soil also clogs drains, causing flooding when floods come. People are upset when cars are parked on the sidewalks, blocking the way, and soap and water foam are everywhere...

Currently, on most of the streets in Vinh City, there are many car washes on the sidewalk. For example, on Tran Hung Dao - Truong Chinh and Le Ninh streets from Cua Nam fish pond to Traffic Hospital 4, there are about 20 car washes operating on the sidewalk. Even near the gates of the People's Committees of Doi Cung and Le Loi wards, there are still car washes on the sidewalk.

There are car washes that have invested in iron bridges, stainless steel water tanks, and pumps placed right on the sidewalk. Mr. Vo Viet Luu - Block 3, Quan Bau Ward, Vinh City said: "This area is the sidewalk, but I explained my situation so they created conditions for me to do business and earn money to raise my children."

Mr. Vo Tuan Anh - Chairman of the People's Committee of Doi Cung Ward - Vinh City said: "We handle the issue of washing cars on the sidewalk, but people deal with it by using the pump in their house and pulling the hose out to wash on the sidewalk to operate, so it is very difficult to handle. In the coming time, we will resolutely handle it, only if any household has enough area and can collect wastewater and sand will we allow the operation."

Car washes discharge wastewater directly onto the streets. Photo: Phuong Thuy.

The situation of car and motorbike washes brazenly occupying sidewalks is causing aesthetic and environmental damage and significantly affecting urban traffic safety and order. Is it true that the handling of urban order violations by wards and communes in Vinh city is powerless?

Thanh Tam