Opinion | Cyclists deserve room on the road
Government must recognise difference between riding as a recreational pursuit and as a formal training programme
One person furtively scopes the area, looking out for the long arm of the law before setting out on his mission. Another is not as lucky, is unable to sprint away and ends up being arrested and hauled off to court to face charges. It might seem like something straight from the Jason Bourne trilogy.
But these are no "criminal" acts, rather the daily tribulations our young cyclists face as they bid to follow in the footsteps of trailblazers such as Wong Kam-po, or, perhaps, Hung Chung-yam from an earlier generation.
Esther Fung Yuk-ki, 17, has been identified as an up-and-coming star by the Hong Kong Cycling Association (HKCA). She is part of the youth squad.
The government must take another look at its stringent laws governing road safety and make allowances for our elite cyclists
Unlike the seniors who are based in and train on the mainland, the youngsters have to make do with limited road facilities in Hong Kong. She was arrested for not cycling on a designated cycle path.
Ronald Yeung Ying-hon, a former member of the Hong Kong senior team, recalls how he had to "act like a thief" and make sure there were no police around before he went out training on the roads.
Yeung, who now rides for a professional team in Singapore, says whenever he returns home "I have to be careful before and during training, it was just like doing something illegal".