Residents are occupying sidewalks to set up car wash businesses in Vinh City.

(Baonghean.vn) - Besides the encroachment on sidewalks for commercial purposes, car washing on the streets is also a source of frustration for residents and detracts from the urban aesthetics of Vinh.

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

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

The practice of washing cars on the sidewalk has significantly impacted traffic flow along this road. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly, over 70 years old, frequently walks along this road to go to the market and for exercise. Ms. Ly stated: "I'm old and can't ride a motorbike anymore, so I walk here every day to go to the market and for exercise. They spray water on me and other pedestrians while washing their cars, forcing me to walk in the middle of the road, which is very dangerous. The car washes release water onto the road, and sometimes I have to walk in the middle of the road to avoid puddles."

Washing cars on the sidewalk blocks the pedestrian walkway. Photo: Thanh Tam.

The encroachment on sidewalks for washing cars and motorbikes not only obstructs pedestrian walkways, but the sand and soil also clog drainage systems, causing flooding during heavy rains. Residents are frustrated by the cars parked on sidewalks blocking the walkways, and the soap and foam spilling everywhere.

Currently, most streets in Vinh City have numerous car washes operating on sidewalks. For example, along the Tran Hung Dao - Truong Chinh and Le Ninh road axis, from Cua Nam fish pond to Traffic Hospital 4, there are approximately 20 car washes operating on the sidewalk. Even near the entrances of the People's Committee offices of Doi Cung and Le Loi wards, sidewalk car washes still exist.

Some car washes have been set up with iron ramps, stainless steel water tanks, and pumps right on the sidewalk in a blatant manner. Mr. Vo Viet Luu – Block 3, Quan Bau Ward, Vinh City, said: “This area is on the sidewalk, but I explained my situation and they made arrangements for me to do business and earn money to support my children.”

Mr. Vo Tuan Anh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Doi Cung Ward, Vinh City, said: "We are dealing with car washing on sidewalks, but people are evading the regulations by keeping the water pumps inside their houses and extending the hoses to the sidewalks to continue their operations, making it very difficult to enforce. In the future, we will resolutely crack down on this. Only households that meet the requirements for area and can collect wastewater and sand will be allowed to operate."

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

The blatant occupation of sidewalks by car and motorbike washing stations is causing a loss of aesthetic appeal, environmental damage, and significantly impacting urban traffic safety. Could it be that the wards and communes in Vinh City are powerless to address these urban order violations?

Thanh Tam