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Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (April 30):
Question:
Regarding cycling facilities and the promotion of cycling, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of a breakdown by district council district, of the locations of all public cycle tracks, bicycle parking spaces and cycle parks, the responsible government departments (including the design, planning, construction and management of these facilities), as well as the respective numbers of traffic accidents involving bicycles in various districts last year and the resultant casualties;
(b) whether it has assessed if there is any overlap in the functions of the above government departments, and how these departments should be coordinated to make them accountable to the public for their work in ensuring the safety of cycling facilities and reducing traffic accidents involving bicycles, and whether it will consider formulating a central policy on cycling and setting up an inter-departmental committee to coordinate the management of cycling facilities and promotion of cycling; and
(c) whether it will consider studying the effect of encouraging the public to cycle on air quality and health, and whether it will cooperate with local cycling organizations to offer cycling training courses to all primary school pupils for free or at low fees?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) & (b) The total length of public cycle tracks, the number of bicycle parking spaces and leisure venues with cycling facilities in Hong Kong, with a breakdown down by district council district, are set out at Annex 1. The locations of cycle tracks are at Annex 2, and those of leisure venues with cycling facilities are at Annex 3. Since the number of bicycle parking spaces is very high and such spaces are widely distributed in each district, we have not set out all the information and the detailed locations. If Members would like to know the locations of the bicycle parking spaces in public places and within public housing estates of individual districts, we can provide the detailed information.
The number of traffic accidents and casualties involving bicycles in 2007, with a breakdown by district, is at Annex 4.
The functions of the various government departments in the design, planning, construction, management and maintenance of cycling facilities are set out at Annex 5.
We consider that while the functions of the various departments are finely delineated, there is no overlap in these functions. The departments have also been cooperating closely in the planning and design of cycling facilities. In addition, Transport Department is responsible for coordinating the safety of cycling facilities. At this stage, we do not consider there is a need to set up an inter-departmental committee to coordinate the management of cycling facilities.
(c) Hong Kong is densely populated. To strike a balance between the need to alleviate traffic congestion and air pollution, we have all along been actively pursuing the policy of having the public transport system as the main transport mode and encourage the public to make use of the mass public transport system and other public transport services. Railway is the backbone of our transport system, with franchised buses and public light buses providing feeder services to the railway network so as to reduce vehicles on road and their impact on air quality. As the road network and public transport system in Hong Kong are well developed, the general road traffic is heavy and road space is limited, under our transport policy and based on road safety and traffic considerations, we do not encourage the use of bicycles as a transport mode in the urban areas.
Cycling is a recreational activity which is good for both physical and mental health. Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) provides subvention to the Hong Kong Cycling Association on a yearly basis under the School Sports Programme for organisation of cycling training courses and activities for primary and secondary students in Hong Kong. The Programme includes the Demonstrations, the Easy Sport Programme and the Outreach Coaching Programme. Participating schools may conduct their training and demonstration in their school campuses or in LCSD venues where bicycles are provided. In 2007-08, LCSD organised a total of 59 training courses for about 3,200 participants and the subvention accounted for about 70% to 85% of the programme expenses.
LCSD also provides subvention to the Hong Kong Cycling Association on a yearly basis for the organisation of Cycling Proficiency Course for members of the public aged between 6 and 55 in all districts. The content includes basic cycling skills and knowledge on the structure of bicycles so as to enhance the participants' interest in cycling.
Ends/Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:00
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