HANOI, Aug 14 — If you’re headed to Hanoi, Vietnam, be prepared to do a little more walking as the city has decided to ban the iconic rickshaw.

Described by some as London’s equivalent of the black cab, the three-wheeled cyclo, as it’s also called, is expected to be banned by local city officials in an effort to ease traffic congestion.

The phase-in ban doesn’t come as a big surprise given that the city has been steadily restricting the use of rickshaws since 2009, reports Thanh Nien newspaper.

After limiting the service to just tourists, the city also imposed strict regulations on routes, pick-up points and hours.

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Meanwhile, when it was first enacted a few years ago a similar ban in the Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) failed to eliminate the mode of transportation seen alternately as inhumane and indispensable for those who depend on the laborious job to earn their living. — AFP/Relaxnews