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The Po Kong Village Road Park (Phase II) will open on Sunday (January 15) to thrill cyclists of different ages and abilities with the territory's most advanced and challenging cycling facilities.
The 4.5-hectare park in Wong Tai Sin, under the auspices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), features the most challenging BMX area in Hong Kong, also the territory's first elevated one-kilometre-long cycling track, and a cycling area for beginners.
An LCSD spokesman said: "Cycling is a popular activity among Hong Kong people. The park, conveniently located in the city, provides comprehensive cycling facilities to enable cyclists as well as athletes to take part in the sport in a safe and comfortable environment."
The elevated one-kilometre-long and six-metre-wide cycling track is constructed along the hilly terrain of the park. There is no age limit on the use of the track but only two-wheeled bicycles are allowed on the track and cyclists must wear helmets for safety reasons.
"In addition, the park's BMX area poses different levels of challenges for BMX riders to enhance their skills," the spokesman said.
The BMX area comprises three half-pipe-shaped bowls with slopes at different gradients, offering different levels of difficulty to riders to perform stunts such as jumps in the bowls.
To ensure the safety of users of the BMX facilities, they must be at least 8 years old, possess the required skills for BMX biking, and be familiar with the safety regulations for using the facilities. Users, therefore, need to pass an assessment before they can use the BMX area. The LCSD and the Hong Kong Cycling Association are now jointly organising safety briefing and skill-assessment sessions at the park for people aged 8 or above who have skills in using BMX bikes with a wheel diameter of 20 inches. Participants who pass the assessment will be issued a permit to use the two half-pipe-shaped bowls with gentler gradients.
Two safety briefing and skill-assessment sessions, each lasting around two hours, will be held at the park's BMX area every Saturday and Sunday from January 15 until March 25 (except January 21 and 22). The quota for each session is 10 and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Interested persons are welcome to apply in person at the Wong Tai Sin District Leisure Services Office. There are still limited vacancies for the January sessions. February sessions will be open for application from January 17. Applications for the March sessions will be announced in due course.
Successful applicants should bring along their own BMX bicycles (with a wheel diameter of 20 inches) and wear suitable hard shell BMX helmets when they attend the skill-assessment sessions. The LCSD will continue to organise briefing and assessment sessions as well as training courses at regular intervals to enable more people to obtain the permit and use the two half-pipe-shaped bowls.
The most challenging half-pipe-shaped bowl with the steepest gradient in the BMX area is reserved for BMX athletes to conduct advanced training under close supervision and guidance by qualified instructors.
Novice cyclists including young children can use the circular cycling area which is built on a flat surface to allow beginners to master basic cycling skills and enjoy the fun of the sport.
Visitors can bring their own bicycles and helmets for use in the park. A bicycle rental kiosk is also available at the park. The elevated cycling track and the cycling area for beginners are open from 8am to 10pm while the BMX area is open from 10am to 10pm daily. Except for the cycling area for beginners, which is open seven days a week, all other cycling facilities will be closed for maintenance from 9am to 2pm on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
Apart from cycling facilities, Po Kong Village Road Park (Phase II) also features a children's playground, a fitness corner and a covered amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 200 for performances and other outdoor activities.
The adjacent Po Kong Village Road Park (Phase I) was opened to the public in September 2010. With an area of 4.5 hectares, it provides a large artificial turf pitch that can be used as two 11-a-side soccer pitches, two rugby pitches or a cricket field. There is a 1,000-seat covered spectator stand. Other facilities include a cricket practice area, fitness corner, children's playground, jogging trail, pebble path and a tai chi area.
Po Kong Village Road Park is easily accessible by public transport. Visitors can take minibus route no. 19M from the Diamond Hill MTR Station, or take bus route nos. 3B, 3D, 3M, 116 or 203E. Fee-charging parking spaces are also available at the park. For enquiries, please call the management office at 2320 6140.
Ends/Saturday, January 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:01
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