Two wheels good.

If there’s one thing Asia has a lot of, it’s cars. With the exception of Singapore and its enlightened vehicle control policies, the region pursues its love of four wheeled motorized transport with a fervour that would put the Americans to shame. The sight of Thanon Sathorn or Jalan Sultan Ismail on a Friday night is enough to convince anyone of the need for some sort of alternative to infinitely increasing car use.

Every so often, though, there’s a glimpse of something different. A trip to Hanoi earlier in the year offered a vision of a prototype transport policy which capital cities all throughout Asia would be sensible to adopt.

Other than hotel cars, taxis and the occasional senior communist cadre’s vehicle, everyone in Hanoi moves around the city on two wheels rather than four. The number of mopeds is truly phenomenal. The result is a city that’s easy and quick to get around, with easy parking right outside the restaurants and bars you want to go to; where moving around is actually enjoyable rather than a test, in an elegant urban atmosphere unique in Asia.

As a bonus, Hanoians have no issues with vehicle security; at the end of the day, they simply wheel their scooters into their living rooms before they retire to bed.

I wish other cities would become more moped-friendly, particularly in central areas. Tax breaks on new environmentally friendly models, scooter-only streets, and strict punishment for car drivers who fail to respect people on two wheels would go a long way to reducing congestion, improving air quality, freeing up road space for more interesting uses, and making Asian capitals better places to live.