During the opening ceremony of Ride to Shine Hong Kong this month, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui challenged Hongkongers to cycle more than 1.2 million km – a distance equivalent to circling the Earth 30 times – to commemorate Hong Kong’s 30th anniversary of returning to China next year.
Cycling is more than a trend and worth developing. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has been the most energy-efficient form of human-powered transport – including running or walking. Research suggests it takes less energy to cycle than to walk the same distance.
Cycling advocates would cite at least three benefits of using bicycles as a mode of transport. Particularly in urban areas, if more people commuted by bicycle, we could significantly reduce road congestion, curb fuel consumption and improve our overall health. Cycling would also help countries take a giant leap towards the UN’s sustainability goal of reducing carbon emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
There is no shortage of closed-road cycling events in Hong Kong – including the annual Cyclothon and Cycle for Millions, both of which I have participated in multiple times, pedalling alongside thousands of cycling enthusiasts. I was often surprised by the huge turnouts as I had not seen many cyclists on the road on a day-to-day basis.
Hong Kong also has various parks and boardwalks with bike trails and shared lanes, including the Go Park, the East Coast Boardwalk and the Central Harbourfront. We may gradually see more lane-sharing pathways and trails in the city, but cycling appears to be limited to being a leisure activity.
Unfortunately, we are not quite a cycle-friendly city yet. There are some districts with more integrated cycling lanes and networks, including Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tuen Mun and the developing Kai Tak GreenWay. However, cross-district commuting over longer distances is the key. For crosstown travel, cycling would truly be of benefit when one needs to reach a destination to which it is too far to walk.
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