Ride of Silence to honour Hong Kong cyclists who lost their lives on public roads
Martin Turner, of the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance, says the government must look at cycling as a transport option and not just as a leisure activity
Hilly topography, narrow, busy streets and a lack of public awareness about cycling make Hong Kong far from bicycle-friendly – but that doesn’t stop thousands of people each day from employing pedal power.
Whereas the number of fatal road accidents has steadily declined since the 1980s, cyclist deaths have not, with a yearly average of 10.9 over the past decade, according to government figures.
On Wednesday, the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance will hold its 14th annual Ride of Silence – one of 285 such events that will take place simultaneously around the globe – to commemorate the 11 cyclist deaths and 1,600 injuries recorded on Hong Kong roads during 2018. More than 350 riders took part in last year’s ride.
The number of deaths, which are heavily skewed towards male riders – in 2017 men outnumbered women 11 to one in fatalities – will fall only when city planners make cycling a priority, says alliance chairman Martin Turner. “Safety is our focus on this ride, but safety isn’t the key barrier: perception and infrastructure are the routes forward,” he says. “Cycling is only a part of the big picture, which is how we organise the city and how we make it work for people.”
The fallen cyclists being commemorated include a 68-year-old man hit by a bus in Sha Tin last April, a 21-year-old man who collided with a taxi in Tung Chung in May and a 48-year-old hit-and-run victim, killed the same month. Tai Po, Sha Tin and Yuen Long – all areas popular with cyclists – were particular black spots.