Survey of Legco candidates’ views on cycling

September 6th, 2012 | Posted by wheeliefine in advocacy | bike safety | cycle tracks | environmental | general cycling | Harbourfront Cycleway | law | transport | transport - (0 Comments)

HKCAll has surveyed candidates in Sunday’s (9 Sept) elections for the Legislative Council for their views on cycling.

The results show that many strongly support the substantive development of cycling for Hong Kong.  Some are better informed than others, but this is an important time for progress in many areas, with important decisions being made about key development projects, such as West Kowloon, Kai Tak and Northern District, as well as the sluggish development of the New Territories Cycling Network.  Moreover, we believe that now is the time to address the yawning policy void that the government has with regards to cycling.

It is vital that the new Legco is able to press our government to implement the visionary policies we need if Hong Kong is to properly serve the increasing number of cyclists of all stripes, and more importantly to justify its ‘world city’ label with planning and administration that integrates cycling, to ease traffic congestion, facilitate personal mobility, improve the quality of our environment (air pollution, noise pollution, excessive concrete and roads) and raise health and wellness levels for our whole population.

See what the candidates had to say.

 

 

 

, , , , ,

Drivers’ employers are at the wheel

August 23rd, 2012 | Posted by wheeliefine in motorists | transport | transport - (0 Comments)

It’s often been my experience that drivers of large trucks are more professional than those in PSVs (public service vehicles – ones that carry passengers).  They are more aware of us, less aggressive and especially much more conciliatory when you talk to them after an ‘incident’.  I get the clear impression that they know they’ll be in big trouble from their employers if you escalate a complaint.

Which makes me wonder how we might work through bus companies and other organisations to influence the behaviour of the drivers they employ.  Drivers of minibuses and taxis, not to mention smaller vans, may be less constrained by employers than those of large good vehicles and companies that value their public profile. Bus companies should be able to closely manage their drivers, but don’t always seem to.

Do you agree?  Are drivers from some types of employer more considerate / less aggressive?  Could we show that certain groups of drivers who are more closely managed drive better, and hence put pressure on other organisations (eg. bus companies) to make their drivers perform better around cyclists?

單車阻慢交通嗎？Are bicycles slowing down traffic?

August 11th, 2012 | Posted by Ka Leung Chan in advocacy | general cycling | transport - (5 Comments)

單車在馬路上行駛會阻慢交通嗎？

許多人以為單車會阻礙其他車輛及阻慢交通，所以單車不應在馬路上行駛，即使在馬路上騎單車也要行在路邊不應阻礙其他車輛。

事實是怎樣呢？

一般人踏一輛普通的單車能輕易保持以時速20至30公里前進，快者可達到時速40至50公里；而巿區馬路（除高速公路外）一般限速是時速50公里。

假設單車像所有其他車輛一樣在行車線中央行駛，單車在馬路上和其他車輛的互動會有以下的情況出現：

第一個情況：如果路面暢通，車輛速度高於單車­，所有高速的車輛都應該利用快線安全地超越慢線上相對慢­的車輛（這包括巴士、單車、工程車等），如果單車前進速度高，也應如此安全地超越停在慢線的車輛；正因為路面暢通，慢車­和快車都能按照自己的速度在適當的線道前進，誰也不阻礙誰；即使單車的極速不及汽車的極速快，事實上單車只是路上其中一輛會使用慢線的車輛，而且相較不時要停站上落客的巴士、小巴、的士及上落貨的貨車等等，能夠保持20公里至30公里不斷前進及靈活流動的單車一點也不構成對其他車輛的阻礙。

第二個情況：如果路面多車，車­輛行駛速度和單車相若，單車跟本不會阻礙任何車輛，因為­大家一樣速度；

第三個情況：如果是塞車，車輛以龜速前進的情況下，單車可以在車輛之間爬頭超越所有車輛，當所有車輛的引擎仍空轉著燒燃料時，單車可能已經到了­目的地了！

單車經過正在擠塞中的汽車龍；路上是太多單車還是太多汽車？（攝於九龍金巴利道）

單車經過正在擠塞中的汽車龍；路上是太多單車還是太多汽車？（攝於九龍金巴利道）

唯一的一個單車可能會阻慢其他車輛的情況，是在只有一條行車線而行車線的闊度不足夠讓車輛及單車並排行駛的情況，那麼後面的車輛就要跟在單車之後等待可以安全超越的機會。然而這情形並不常見，而且在如此狹窄的行車線上，即使沒有單車阻礙也是不適宜以高速行駛的。當然，駕駛人仕應互相禮讓，如果在造成後面車輛較長時間等候或慢駛的情況下，騎單車人仕在這安全情況下也可停靠一邊禮讓後面的車輛超越。

本人在馬路上踏單車時就經常遇上被汽車超越之後，在下一個交通燈位置再追上甚至越過那汽車的情形。要知道造成交通擠塞的是汽車而不是單車，誰還能說是單車阻礙其他車輛呢？也可以說是汽車在阻礙單車罷！單車不但不會阻礙其他車輛，在巿區鼓勵使用單車其實有助於減少交通擠塞，當巿民減少駕駛汽車而使用單車時，交通擠塞自然減少。

所以，下次當你看見單車在馬路上行駛，你要慶幸他駛的不是一輛製造污染的汽車，更要感謝他為減少城市交通擠塞及環保所作的貢獻。

, ,

Cycling is now part of core Government policy

March 31st, 2012 | Posted by wheeliefine in law | transport | Transport Department - (0 Comments)

.. in the UK.

Already the location of many exciting local and national cycling initiatives, the United Kingdom is taking further steps to ensure that cycling maintains a central role in development across the country.  The transport minister responsible for cycling (sigh .. here in Hong Kong, our government won’t even acknowledge that cycling *is* transport) has emphasised that cycling is “mainstream transport policy” and is coordinating the integration of cycling-enabled environment in all areas.

Read all about it here.

Why are cyclists angry?

March 8th, 2012 | Posted by Hong Kong Cycling Alliance in bike safety | general cycling | transport - (0 Comments)

There’s a great article in the Sydney Morning Herald on what makes cyclists angry on the roads.. it applies very well to our roads in Hong Kong… so, Why are cyclists angry?.

Buses must carry folding bikes

February 28th, 2012 | Posted by wheeliefine in transport | transport | Transport Department | uncategorised - (1 Comments)

Under renewal terms for franchises beginning 2013, currently held by New World First Bus, Long Win Bus and Citybus on the airport and North Lantau network, passengers must be allowed to bring foldable bicycles on board.

(Reported in SCMP, 28 Feb 2012.  But we are not sure where that news came from.  Will post here when we find it.)

Amen! … – This Big City + 城事

February 28th, 2012 | Posted by Hong Kong Cycling Alliance in advocacy | transport | transport - (0 Comments)

Got to love the meaning behind this poster…!

“climate does not always deter cyclists”

February 22nd, 2012 | Posted by Hong Kong Cycling Alliance in advocacy | transport - (0 Comments)

There’s a interesting short post on the Cityfix blog about what factors encourage people to walk and cycle more, and it turns out that climate and geography have less of an effect than supportive bike culture and bike education.

They go on to say that people are also willing to walk and bike longer than planners generally assume, and that while aesthetics along a route sometimes get more focus from planners, these considerations are actually secondary for everyday users, where distance to key destinations, connections and lack of barriers matter the most for everyday users.

In Hong Kong, we have been pushing the government for a long time to directly support cycling as a mode of transport and to properly educate drivers in particular, so as to promote a better and more healthy bike culture. With the more recent discussions about allowing more mainland cars into Hong Kong, having a thoughtful and coordinated urban plan for Hong Kong that includes pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure considerations is more essential now than ever before.

The Harbourfront Cycleway enhances the IEC boardwalk – find out how and why!

February 21st, 2012 | Posted by Hong Kong Cycling Alliance in Harbourfront Cycleway | transport - (0 Comments)

The IEC boardwalk Cycleway Feasibility study presentation that the HKCAll made to the Harbourfront Commission in January is now available on the Harbourfront Cycleway website in English and Chinese languages.

This presentation includes a few of the many possibilities that the cycleway brings to the long boardwalk, as well as possible issues and brief discussions on structure layouts for the boardwalk deck. It is only 38 pages long, so is well worth spending 5 or 10 minutes reading time.

The audio of the actual presentation to the Harbourfront Commission can be found on their website.

Link the Bike – With Strida

February 20th, 2012 | Posted by Hong Kong Cycling Alliance in transport - (0 Comments)

There’s a few updates on the ‘link the bike’ project from the link real estate people… they are offering bikes for free use if you spend a minimum amount in their shopping malls.  They will be available at their Tin Shui Wai, Tseung Kwan O and Stanley Shopping Centres, and with tyre pumps, racks, bike lock and repair kit at no charge, they could be a good alternative for any cyclists looking to get home after a shopping trip.

More information at the stanley plaza website.