Bicycle-sharing (2017/06/21)（Supplementary）

 

MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): President, a "bicycle-friendly" policy is good to public health, the environment, and even tourism development. Bike-sharing is even a development trend in society. But pedestrian and road safety would be affected if it is not handled properly.

Hence, Mr LEUNG Che-cheung's concern just now is not unwarranted. This is because if an operator really intends to develop a bike-sharing service comprising over ten thousand or even one hundred thousand bicycles, I do not think the Government can ignore the problem we have raised. Will the Secretary hold any discussions with interested parties or the existing operator on the formulation of short-, medium- and long-term policies that cover parking sites and facilities, so that the service can be operated without affecting the daily life of residents in the districts concerned, particularly in new towns where the development of the service is under planning?

 

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING (in Cantonese): President, as pointed out in the motion debate last week and my main reply just now, the Government thinks that for road safety reasons, including the protection of cyclists, the existing "bicycle-friendly" policy should not encourage the use of bicycles as a means of transport in busy urban areas. However, we will strive to build a "bicycle-friendly" environment in new towns, new development areas or other districts.

For this reason, in the Policy Address of the Chief Executive this year, the Government proposes to promote community bicycle rental services. One specific measure is of course the identification of sites in suitable places for parking rental bicycles. Therefore, whether we talk about a public bicycle rental service run by the Government, or a rental service promoted by community and non-profit making organizations, or even an automated community bicycle rental service run on a commercial basis, the fundamental issue is still about the need to provide land support, which is also the problem that the Government is trying to address now.

We of course note with concern that if the operator really puts in large numbers of new bicycles for rental, the limited number of bicycle parking spaces at present will fail to cope. Hence, as mentioned in the main reply, TD and other relevant government departments already met with the operator again in early June to express our concern. A similar problem can also be found in other big cities, but some of these cities are of course in a better position to provide land support in this regard.