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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1977
MANY CYCLISTS PROSECUTED FOR RECKLESS RIDING
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THERE WERE 1,278 PROSECUTIONS OF CYCLISTS LAST YEAR, 308 OF WHICH WERE FOR NEGLIGENTLY RIDING A BICYCLE, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM, MR. THORNTON AGREED THAT RECKLESS CYCLISTS DID CONSTITUTE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHER PEOPLE.
HE NOTED THAT IN THE VIEW OF THE TRAFFIC POLICE THE MAIN PROBLEMS EXISTED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND, IN PARTICULAR, TAI PO AREA EXTENDING TO PLOVER COVE AND BRIDES POOL.
THESE ARE POPULAR PICNIC SPOTS DURING WEEKENDS AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, HE SAID, ADDING THAT IN TAI PO A NUMBER OF BICYCLE HIRE SHOPS DID A THRIVING BUSINESS HIRING BICYCLES MAINLY TO YOUNGSTERS ON THEIR WAY TO AN OUTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
+UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SEVERAL ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS ALONG TING KOK ROAD IN THE VICINITY OF STEEP INCLINES, MR. THORNTON SAID.
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL POINTED OUT THAT THE POLICE HAD ASKED THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO ERECT WARNING SIGNS ADVISING CYCLISTS TO DISMOUNT AND WALK WHEN NEGOTIATING THESE HILLS.
+ACTION IS IN HAND ALTHOUGH THE SIGNS ARE NOT YET IN PLACE,+ HE SAID.
MR. THORNTON ADDED THAT SUBJECT TO OTHER COMMITMENTS, THE POLICE PUT OUT A SQUAD OF TRAFFIC POLICEMEN TO ADVISE AND WARN CYCLISTS IN THIS AREA OF THE DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS OF RIDING BICYCLES RECKLESSLY.
+THE CHIEF STAFF OFFICER (TRAFFIC) HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO ADVISE AND WARN CYCLISTS WHO DO NOT CONTROL THEIR MACHINES PROPERLY, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL SAID.
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