ENG-2014 — Page 267

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Transport

Road Safety

There were 15,790 traffic accidents involving injuries in 2014, of which 2,508 were serious and 99 were fatal. This compares with 16,089 accidents in 2013, of which 2,476 were serious and 128 were fatal. Traffic accidents involving injuries decreased by 1.9 per cent in 2014, compared with 2013.

Pedestrian Transport

Hillside Escalator Links and Elevator Systems

The Central Mid-Levels Escalator Link on Hong Kong Island is the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system, stretching over 800 metres and climbing 135 vertical metres from Des Voeux Road Central to Conduit Road. Opened in 1993, it consists of 18 reversible one-way escalators and three reversible one-way travelators. Average daily traffic is about 85,000 people.

The Centre Street Escalator Link in Sai Ying Pun, opened in 2013, comprises one two-way escalator and three one-way escalators and runs from Third Street to Bonham Road, carrying about 15,000 people a day.

In addition, construction of the Pedestrian Link at Tsz Wan Shan and the Yuet Wah Street Pedestrian Linkage is going ahead under the Shatin to Central Link project and the Kwun Tong Town Centre Redevelopment respectively.

Improving the Pedestrian Environment

Pedestrian schemes have been introduced to improve the pedestrian environment in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Stanley, Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Yuen Long and Sheung Shui. The government is also taking forward pedestrian environment improvement schemes in Yuen Long and Mong Kok. Under the Yuen Long Town Pedestrian Environment Improvement Scheme, seven minor schemes (such as improvement of pedestrian crossings. and widening of foot paths) have been completed while the proposed elevated pedestrian corridor along Yuen Long Town Nullah is proceeding to the investigation and detailed design stage with the construction expected to commence in 2017. Further investigations are under way for a proposed footbridge system in Mong Kok.

'Universal Accessibility' Programme

The government has been installing barrier-free access facilities (lifts or ramps) at public footbridges, elevated walkways and subways maintained by the Highways Department where technically feasible for years. Lifts or standard ramps will be retrofitted for existing public walkways if they are not equipped with standard barrier-free access facilities and there are no crossing facilities available at the same level within about 100 metres. Out of the remaining 154 retrofitting works items, 10 items were completed in 2014.

In August 2012, the government launched a new 'Universal Accessibility' programme which aims at further enhancing the barrier-free access facilities for existing public walkways maintained by the Highways Department. The government is taking forward the lift retrofitting works items for the three public walkways selected by each of the 18 District Councils for

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