MOTORING
CURRENT
SUPPLEMENT
COMMENT
OP
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
SATURDAY, 14th August, 1926.
(Bong the Official Organ of the Hongkoný Automobile Association).
a small bridge which has col- lapsed, some two hundred yards before the five span bridge. Ex- cept for road collapses by the Briquetting Company, at, Tein Wan, the road is as usual until the second beach is passed, but after this the greatest caution should be used. Only a short distance past the second beach, a huge section of the road has caved in but it is possible to get pass this spot with a motor cycle combination. It is doubtful whether a car could get through, After this, bad patches follow each other in quick succession, and in several places there is little road su face left, the tar mucndam baing badly churned up. Big "U" gaps have been left in the sides of the roads, leaving very little sound road on which to pass. It was noticeable that although there were a num- little work was being dono. Ao parently, when the bridge abov referred to has been repaire traffle will be possible all the
Control
Needed.
LARGEST CLUB
300,000 A. A. MEMBERS.
On July 7th the membership of the Automobile Association passed the third hundred thous and mark. On 6th July last year the membership reached 250,000.
the
Why this should be so it is difficult to explain. It is noticable that somie policemen on duty there make valiant but often unsuccessful efforts to quell the coolies, who havo had to be threatened with a baton before they would be orderly. Other policemen, it has been noticed,
The A. A. is the youngest or take little or no notice of these annoying scenes, and the coolies ganisation of private users of create as much disorder as they motor cars and motorcycles liko-It is annoying in the extreme-in England it is also
havo to literally dodge largest in the world, its member- to across the road, and more than ship being direct, and not affect- one person has narrowly escapeded by affiliation.
The Association was started being struck in the face by the hood of a ricksha as the coolie to try to get to a prospective has suddenly swung round, either fare before another, or to avoid a policeman. A short time ago there used to be a similar rush the order now prevailing there' shows the result of efficient control. Could not something be done to remedy matters on the Hongkong side? If the
Road to Conduit Road has not Control Improvement.
yet been opened as this suffered Among the recent improve rather badly. The main island ments we have noticed is that road, between Repulse Bay and during the busy hours of the day Tytam cannot be used by mator 6 European traffic officer is traffic, but thoro are two ways to staticned either at the junction Repulse Bay now open-ons of Garden Road and Queen's from the city via Pokfulum and Road or at the junction of Des Aberdeen and the other via Voeux Road Central and Jackson Wanchai, Stubbs Read and Road. This officer works between Wongnoicheong Gap. To Sheko, thead two posts between the hours there is only one way possible, of 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. and namely, by way of Shaukiwan. from 5 p.m. to 7p.. His duty. The bridge situated on the lower we understand, is to see that the road loading to the matsheds at native police are on the alert and Repulse Bay is damaged and gonorally to assist in trafic care should be exorcised when bor of coolies along the road for fares on the Kowloon side, but Day and Night road service, out-
control. Vehicle Accidents.
{
driving over this spot.
Another Cont Wanted.
A short time ago we published
a list of the accidents which had
While it is undoubtedly a good
twenty-one years back, in 1905,
Road. To-day, the A. A. road patrols on the London-Brighton. by the provision of eight cyclist
patrols are serving members on over 20,000 miles of roads, and their cycles, motor cycles, and fits are covering over eighteen million miles annually.
occurred in Shanghai during the scheme to whiten prominent way, assuming that a small - rickshas were regulated with a in his hands. That is all fiddle- | first six months of the year. We objects, such as rocks, bridges. in the road near Castle Peak Grm hand, people, who do not sticks, because it is within the}
follows:
the same
BHANGHAI ̄ ̄ ̄-----
Month Accidents. Injured Killed Jan,
it
aro now enabled to give the total eto. at dangorous corners; number which have occurred in should be remembered that such colouring does not last for over Hongkong during period, and we think that the and after a certain time has comparison is all in favour of clapsed, another coat or coats of this Colony. The figures, are as paint should be applied. On the Kowloon side this discolouration is noticeable along the Taipo Road, and the Castle Peak road, as far as it is now possible to go. The painted objects do not show up in lamplight as well as they might do. It is, of course, pos- sible-that-the-recent-heavy rain has reduced the reflective powers of the paint, but in view of the extremely dangerous twists and turns along these roads, no time should be lost in renewing the paint.
598.
177
Q.
Feb.
520
179
10
March 746
243
11
April
231
May
-722
304
Juno
635
241
5
Total 3738.
1375.
53.
HONGKONG.
Feb.
-MATO
April
跑
May
June
Total
48
Castle Peak Road."-
How work on the road to Castle Poak is progressing; and 300 15217 how long it will be before the One must readily admit that usual evening bathing trips can be made, are questions which are there aré very many more vehicles in the northern port being asked on all sides, and to then here, but the Hongkong list gain some information on this includes all accidents to motor question, a Telegraph representa vehicles, tramcars, push trucks, tive made a trip on the road on rickehas, etc., whether they wero Thursday evening. It was found possible to get to a spot, about of a serious or minor nature.
three miles from Castle Peak, but progress was here stopped by
The Kowloon Bus Service.
Residents in Kowloon will no doubt have noticed the improve, ments which have of late baen carried out in regard to the condition and service of the buses running in Kowloon: These buses are under the constant supervision of this traffic dopart- ment as public vehicles and they are frequently examined by an experienced mechanic.. Most of the signs have been erected at the, approved stopping places and the new regulations regarding stopping are being, vory well followed. It can still be said that only a small percentage of the busos are fully satisfactory from the standpoint of a modern and efficient service of passenger buses, but a number of new vehicles of a well-known make aro on order. As those now busos. arrive the old ones will be taken' off the streets. It is estimated that by the end of the your fully a dozen of theso now vehicles should have arrived. They have been specially designed to give the maximum protection to travelling public.
Road Repairs.
Quite number of the roads which wero blocked by the heavy storms of three wooks ago have been cleared or partially cleared to give a passage to vehicles. Two dangerous spots worth noting and which are now being cleared are, at the junction of Gardon Rond and Robinson. Road and the junction of Caino. Rond and Glencaly. The new Road leading from Robinson
self has already been repaired, a, it ought to have been. Judging by the present rate of progress, it will be surprising if the road is declared open within a month" from now.
Ricksha Nuisance.
Although all credit is due to the traffic department for the efficient manner in which the motor traffic is controlled as a general rule, it would not perhaps be out of place to bring forward the question of rickshas on the Hongkong side entrance at the Star Ferry. In a place like Hongkong, where motor vehicles are fast increasing every year, more and more attention is required to be directed to its control, and the humble rickshe does not come under so striot à
want them would be able to leave the ferry entrance and cross the road in comfort.
CORRESPONDENCE.
QUESTION OF DRIVERS-
WAGES.
Sir Your last Saturday's local motor notes on the question of high wages paid to private motor car drivers must have been read
province of the Traffic Dept. to satisfy themselves that every applicant for a licence physically suitable.
is
If our enterprising, Automobile Association takos the matter up. I feel sure that their efforts will meet with very wide support.
Yours, etc. COMMONSENSE. Hongkong, August 11tb.
Overheard in the Shanghai Club What nowhere to drive in Shanghai? Why man, I drove 65 miles this morning, on one with the utmost satisfaction by. journey
ney* Good gracious, wher almost every employer of this ever did you go? Go? I wasn't particular class of labour.
Unquestionably, the wages paid going anywhere I was looking to motor car drivers here are for a place to park.” entirely out of proportion to the ̈ services
rendered in return.
vigilance as formerly. On a wet There is not a servant in my day particularly, the passenger house who does not work very who emerges on to the Praya much harder than the average from the ferry is usually met driver, and yet should I again. with a great hubbub of shouting, engage a driver, I must apparent- the entrance is practically block-ly pay twice the wage paid to my ed with richskas and passengers, No. 1 houseboy. who cannot get out because of the rickshas. There is often a scene of great disorder there, and this occasionally happens on a fine day.
During the week, I did happen to meet with one man who dis- agreed with your "point of view, on the ground that a driver Carries the life of the passengers
TSINGTAO TO. CHEFOO OVERLAND.
TSINGTAO TO_C
ROADS OR NO ROADS,
LATE ITEM.
',
Just as we are going-to- prose we learn that the Sheko Road is in the hands of the Public Works Department. and that it is now in ex- tremely bad condition for motorists.
the
It would be as well to avoid this road- over week-end.
Mr. Mark L. Moody and party with the car in which they made the trip from Tsingtao to Chefoo, travolling ovor fields, mulo paths and gulloys, and through sand. On several occasions they had to push the car. The trip was accomplished, in fourteen hours and forty minutes, running time, without engine or tyre trouble. Left to right: Messrs. Paul W. Brown, Executive Scorotury Navy YM.C.A., Leroy Weber, American Consul, Mark L. Moody, Hubbard, US Navy Patrol Officer, Roy Sörvice, and J. McMullan,
THE GASCON MOTOR CO..
2, Kwong Wah Road (Opposite The Stoare Laundry) Telephone K.1242.
We take pleasure in announcing that we are expecting our first shipment of 1927 Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles- Solos -Combinations, and the famous Singles," side-by side valves as well as overhead valve motors.
2
They will arrive just at the best riding time of the year. Book your order early and be the first to hay 1927 model on the road.
Big assortment of genuine H.D. spare parts and
cessories in stock.
Repairs on all makes of motor cycles.
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VACUUM OIL CO.
MOTOR BUSES POPULAR
CANADA'S ROADS:
Motor bus transportation has Canadian highway develop become popular in the rural dis- ment last year cost $150,000,000. tricts becaugo, it gives a more There are about 400,000 miles of flexible service than the train and highway in the Dominion, 55 its starting and stopping places per rent, of which is unimproved
Barth "are more convenient.
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