Don't put all the railings back

Don't put all the railings back

Under the title “Walk in HK” government is conducting studies to enhance walkability. The objective is to encourage people to walk more, ride less, and to walk the first and last mile connecting with public transport. It is not just a transport policy, but integral to tackling climate change, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and promoting local economies. Central and Sham Shui Po are selected to test measures and showcase new strategies. You can participate in lively debates held with large maps, pens and stickers.

Critical is redistribution of the space available between the walls and site boundaries of properties aligning our streets. How much of the space is used for footways and how much for carriageways? Which type of vehicle and at what time of the day can they use the road space? How can pedestrians, cyclists, cart pushers, drivers safely share and navigate the space available?

Another key measure is to “Reduce clutter by removing suitable street furniture and signs to make more space for pedestrians.” Some signs can easily be removed, including 24 hours no stopping restriction signs and “vehicle waiting will be prosecuted” signs. Road signs can be combined with lamp posts, an idea which we promoted in the Southern District Council since 2013. In many places, guard rails can be removed to make more space, to stop people from using them as storage areas, and to allow easier crossing and sharing of the limited road space.

One of the difficulties for the study team is getting agreement from Transport Department colleagues and district councillors on making changes and removing furniture. What if an accident occurs? What if people complain? These questions can bog down pilot schemes for years, or reduce them to hardly noticeable changes. 

With the protests this dynamic has completely changed. The railings are gone. Near my office it has improved road safety. Formal crossings along Des Voeux Road are far between, so everyone crosses everywhere. But not everywhere you could get back to the pavement. Now you can.

We have written to government and proposed that this is an opportunity. Don’t put the guardrails back. Why give protesters another chance to re-use them? Where there is a need to deter parking, use bollards. Let’s monitor how people respond. We will find that the kerb itself is enough to let people know where they are safe, and where they need to negotiate with vehicles. Trust Hongkongers.

(Based on article published in Southside Magazine - September 2019 issue)

先破後立 - 重審路面規劃

政府正以「活現香港」的名義，研究改善行人路網絡，鼓勵步行，更少駕駛，並提倡「第一及最後一里」，以步行形式連接起點、公共運輸及目的地。這不單是個交通政策，更是為了挽救氣候變化、鼓勵健康生活並推動地區經濟。中環及深水埗被選為試行新政策的地區，歡迎大家拿起地圖、筆及貼紙，一同參與這場活生生的公共辯論。

大廈與建築之間空間的分配是關鍵所在。有多少空間被劃作行人路？車路又佔幾多？哪些車輛在哪些時間可以使用路段？行人、單車手、使用手推車的人及司機可如何安全地共享路權？

另一個重點是移除不必要的街道設施及標誌，改善凌亂的狀況，騰出更多空間讓行人走動。自2013年起，我們在南區區議會提出把標誌與街燈合併，這種做法值得參考。在很多地方，路邊欄杆都非必要。移除它們釋出更多空間，防止他人在路邊儲物，更能方便行人過路，善用有限的路面空間。

令路政署及區議會同意作出改變，移除路面設施，是研究團隊的一大難題。當局對意外發生或市民投訴的擔憂，更有機會令試行計劃停滯不前，把實際改變通通變為無用的小修小補。

但有賴抗爭者有意無意的助力，拆除路邊的圍欄，這個困局有望打破。我們見證了他們的創意，活用路邊的圍欄，綁在一起製造路障。本來，在我的辦公室附近要穿過德輔道中，需走一段路才能找到正式的過路處，因此很多人都選擇橫過馬路。移除圍欄後，大家更容易回到行人路，對所有道路使用者都更安全。

我們已去信政府並指出這是一個難得的契機，希望當局不要重裝圍欄，反正最後或許也會被示威者拆除。如要防止違例泊車，亦可以選擇換上圓柱。就讓我們看看市民會怎樣反應，或許發現一條圓柱已經足夠區別行人路及行車路。

相信香港。相信香港人。

(立場新聞2019年9月19日連結: 先破後立 - 重審路面規劃)