Runners and cyclists on collision course after 10k race is cancelled

It is the runners versus the cyclists.

A group of runners gathered outside Sha Tin police station yesterday morning to protest against the cancellation of the ANS Sha Tin riverside 10 kilometre race, which was due to take place next week.

It is the first time in seven years that the race, which attracted 1,000 runners this year, has had to be cancelled.

Some 25 runners turned up to lend their support to the protest, while about a dozen cyclists also made camp 50 metres away to voice their concerns over what they see as the growing problem of runners and walkers using cycle paths.

The police accepted a protest letter from a member of running club Longrun.hk. Alan Lee, chairman of Longrun.hk, said he was not entirely happy with the police's response and a further demonstration would take place next Sunday. 'We plan to hold another demonstration on March 13 at the Hang Seng School of Commerce,' Lee said. 'We want the government to provide more facilities for runners and to be less biased towards one specific sporting organisation. There should be more running and jogging facilities available to the public so that more races can be staged.

'We're happy to start and finish early before most people are up and about, and not many people are up and about at 7am.' Cyclists have been complaining about an increasing number of runners spoiling their enjoyment of cycle paths, and at one race between Sha Tin and Tai Po last year a group of cyclists sat down across the bike path to try to prevent the runners from passing.