I write to ask the Transport Department to change the route of public light bus No 56.
Currently, the No 56 comes down Park Road, turns left at Babington Path, right at Honiton Road, and right again at Bonham Road. These buses should not use Babington Path and Honiton Road for the following reasons: Honiton Road is a narrow street with a steep downhill slope and a very sharp turn. Private buses for kindergarten children and primary school students often occupy half the pavement while waiting. The public light buses are putting local residents and kindergarten children at risk.
Babington Path has a steep uphill slope and because the buses are carrying a lot of passengers and have to make manual gear changes when negotiating the slope, they make a very loud noise (much louder than private cars), which disturbs residents, especially after 11pm.
Both roads are in a residential area. There are only a couple of shops in Babington Path and none in Honiton Road. Consequently, you seldom see anyone waiting to board in either of these streets and never see any passenger alighting.
My revised route, which I would suggest the Transport Department adopts, would take the buses down Park Road. They would then turn left at Bonham Road, right at Pokfulam Road and at High Street (via Third Street and Western Street). At the end of High Street (only a few blocks), the buses would return to Bonham Road. Alternatively, the buses could travel from Western Street directly to Bonham Road. This new route would not cause any inconvenience to passengers, because High Street is only one block downhill from Bonham Road.
I hope that other residents who share my views will make them known to transport officials and that the department will implement the changes as soon as possible.