Major Hong Kong street to go car free this weekend – but city ‘lagging behind’ New York and London
Planned closure of Des Voeux Road in Central hailed as breakthrough for car-free events, but experts say it is just a “small step” towards much-needed greater pedestrianisation
Hong Kong is “lagging behind” other international cities in terms of traffic management and pedestrian-friendly roads, campaigners and academics have said.
Transport chiefs should work harder to make the city’s streets, often criticised as overcrowded, safer and more enjoyable for pedestrians and cyclists, experts suggested.
They could also learn a lot from pedestrianisation schemes in cities such as London and New York, they said.
The criticisms came ahead of a planned closure of Des Voeux Road in Central – the heart of the city’s business hub – this weekend. The road will be temporarily closed to traffic on Sunday between Pedder Street and Morrison Street, in what campaigners have hailed as a significant breakthrough for car-free events in Hong Kong.
Patrick Fung Kin-wai, chief executive and co-organiser of Clean Air Network, which is leading Sunday’s event, said it was just a “small step” towards making the city less congested and more environmentally friendly.
He said he hoped transport chiefs would begin to seriously consider proposals to make other parts of the city permanently pedestrianised while his group starts planning similar car-free days for next year.