LCQ2: Wearing of helmets by cyclists
************************************
Question:
Under the existing legislation, cyclists are not required to wear helmets. Although the Government conducted a review of the relevant policies in as early as 2011, it only promoted cycling safety and encouraged cyclists to wear bicycle helmets subsequently through education and publicity, rather than introducing legislation to make wearing helmets mandatory for cyclists. However, recently some studies have pointed out that the number of accidents involving bicycles has surged in Hong Kong, with the majority of the cyclists suffering casualties not helmeted. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of traffic accidents involving bicycles that happened in carriageways, cycle tracks, open spaces, playgrounds and other places, as well as the proportion of such number in the overall number of traffic accidents across the territory, in each of the past five years;
(2) given that the Government promoted cycling safety through education and publicity in the past decade, whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of such efforts; and
(3) whether it will conduct public opinion surveys on cycling safety equipment, so as to gain an understanding of public views on the wearing of bicycle helmets by cyclists; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to cycling safety. The Transport Department (TD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) have been monitoring and analysing the statistics and situation of cycling accidents, implementing appropriate enhancement measures, and rolling out publicity and public education activities.
My reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon David Lam is as follows:
According to the information of the TD, the numbers of traffic accidents involving bicycles by location and their proportion in the total numbers of traffic accidents in Hong Kong in each of the past five years are set out in the table below:
| Year | Number of accidents | Total (percentage in the total no. of traffic accidents in Hong Kong in the year) |
||
| Cycle tracks | Carriageways | Other locations (including cycle parks, playgrounds and open spaces, etc.) |
||
| 2017 | 808 | 829 | 280 | 1 917 （12.2%） |
| 2018 | 698 | 817 | 289 | 1 804 （11.3%） |
| 2019 | 666 | 859 | 213 | 1 738 （10.8%） |
| 2020 | 1 213 | 1 137 | 387 | 2 737 （17.9%） |
| 2021 | 1 374 | 1 222 | 398 | 2 994 （16.8%） |
Relevant figures show that with the concerted efforts of the TD and relevant stakeholders, the number of accidents involving bicycles showed an overall downward trend from 1 917 cases in 2017 to 1 738 cases in 2019. However, the number started to rise in 2020 and reached 2 994 cases in 2021. The TD, together with the relevant departments and stakeholders, will continue to strengthen the publicity and education activities on cycling safety so as to reduce accidents.
In fact, the TD has been collaborating with the Road Safety Council (RSC) and the Police in launching publicity and education activities to raise the safety awareness of cyclists and other road users. These activities include holding cycling safety press conference by the Police together with the TD, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China; updating the Road Users' Code, the "Cycling Safety" booklet and the relevant safe cycling tips in the Cycling Information Centre; producing and broadcasting television and radio announcements on cycling safety; making continuous publicity efforts to disseminate video clips and messages on cycling safety through information platforms on the Internet and social media platforms; providing information on cycle tracks (including cycling routes and bicycle parking spaces, etc.) through the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility"; publishing and distributing Road Safety Bulletins on cycling safety; and organising safe cycling day, etc.
At present, there is no mandatory requirement for cyclists to wear bicycle helmets in Hong Kong. The Government has noted that the requirement for wearing helmets varies from place to place. In view of the rising trend of cycling accidents, the TD is now conducting a comprehensive review of the requirement for cyclists to wear bicycle helmets. The factors being considered include whether it should be mandatory for cyclists to wear helmets at all locations or only in designated locations; the age of persons subject to such mandatory requirement; and the practices adopted in other places. With the aim of enhancing safety protection for cyclists, the Government will actively consider to regulate the wearing of bicycle helmets by cyclists through legislative amendments. Regarding whether it should be a mandatory requirement to wear bicycle helmets, the TD had consulted various trades and stakeholders, including cycling clubs, automobile associations, driving centres, transport and logistics sectors, medical groups, operators of shared bicycles and food delivery operators, from April to May this year. the TD is now collating and analysing the views collected and plans to consult Members at the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Transport next month. Meanwhile, the TD will continue to work with RSC and the Police to encourage cyclists to use personal protective gear including bicycle helmets through education and publicity.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:15
Issued at HKT 16:15
NNNN