TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1982
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SHA TIN TO LEAD REVIVAL OF BICYCLING
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SHA TIN IS THE ONLY DISTRICT IN HONG KONG WITH A COMPREHENSIVE CYCLE TRACK PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION.
AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG, IS CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE IN THE NEW TOWN WILL ACCEPT BICYCLES AS A POLLUTION-FREE AND HEALTHY MODE OF TRANSPORT WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF NEW TERRITORIES TONIGHT (TUESDAY), MR TSANG RECALLED THAT IN 1975 MR DAVID AKERS-JONES HAD PROPOSED A COORDINATED CYCLE TRACK SYSTEM FOR COMMUTERS.
THEN IN NOVEMBER 1978, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO PLAN A CYCLE TRACK NETWORK FOR THE DEVELOPING AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.
IT WAS STRESSED THAT A CYCLE TRACK WOULD MAKE THE ROAD SAFER AND ADD A NEW DIMENSION TO RECREATION.
IN DECEMBER 1981. THE 5.2 KM INITIAL SYSTEM OF THE CYCLE TRACK LINKING TAI WAI AND FO TAN IN SHA TIN, WAS OPENED.
BASED ON THE LATEST PROPOSAL, THE CYCLE TRACK IN SHA TIN, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL BE 47.5 KM LONG AND 60 KM LONG IF MA ON SHAN IS INCLUDED.
THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WILL EXTEND ALONG BOTH SIDES OF THE SHING MUN RIVER AS PART OF THE RIVERSIDE PROMENADE PROJECT. THE PROPOSED TRACK ON THE NORTHERN BANK OF THE RIVER WILL RUN TO THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, ON THE SOUTHERN BANK, PROVISIONALLY IT WILL RUN TO THE SIU LEK YUEN VALLEY.
MR TSANG SAID THAT THE CYCLE TRACKS IN SHA TIN WOULD LOOP AROUND THE TOWN, ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO CYCLE BETWEEN THEIR HOMES AND OFFICES, FACTORIES AND SCHOOLS.
+AND IT IS PLANNED THAT CYCLISTS WILL HAVE THEIR SEPARATE TRACKS ON THE COASTAL ROAD CONNECTING SHA TIN AND TAI PO, HE ADDED.
HE ALSO SPOKE OF SOME MINOR DIFFICULTIES IN DEVELOPING SUCH COMPREHENSIVE CYCLE TRACK FOR TRANSPORT PURPOSES.
+AT PROBLEM JUNCTIONS, GUARDRAILS ARE REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF BOTH CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS WHO COMPETE FOR THE USE OF TRACKS,+ HE SAID.
+BESIDES, A NEW SET OF TRAFFIC AIDS AND SIGNS IS REQUIRED. AND A CYCLE TRACK CODE MAY ALSO BE NEEDED.+
HE SAID THE PROJECT MANAGER WILL HAVE TO BUILD CYCLE PARKS ALONG THE RIVER PROMENADES, FO TAN INDUSTRIAL AREA, TOWN CENTRE AND ALL TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER ASSURED RESIDENTS THAT THEY COULD CYCLE SAFELY TO THEIR DESTINATIONS IN THE SAME TIME REQUIRED FOR WAITING A BUS.
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