ENG-2017 — Page 276

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Transport

To help motorists find parking spaces, real-time vacancy information of all government public car parks and 45 public car parks operated by private operators is available through the Transport Department's Hong Kong eRouting mobile application and website, and the government's information portal data.gov.hk. The government will continue to encourage more private operators to publicise parking vacancy information.

Road Safety

There were 15,725 road traffic accidents involving injuries in 2017, of which 2,070 were serious and 104 were fatal. This compares with 16,099 accidents in 2016, of which 2,379 were serious and 129 were fatal. The total number of fatal and serious road traffic accidents decreased 13.3 per cent compared with 2016.

Pedestrian Transport

Walk in Hong Kong

The

government's 'Walk in HK'initiative encourages people to walk more under the four themes: 'Make it smart' by providing user-friendly information on walking routes, 'Make it connected' by enhancing pedestrian networks, 'Make it enjoyable' by making walking a pleasant experience, and 'Make it safe' by providing a safe and quality pedestrian environment. Measures taken by the Transport Department in 2017 included providing covers on certain walkways connecting to public transport, launching a new function in the Hong Kong eTransport application so residents can plan and search for the best walking routes in major shopping areas of Causeway Bay, completing the synchronisation of 18 staggered pedestrian crossings, and starting studies on enhancing pedestrian connectivity between Wan Chai and Sheung Wan and on enhancing walkability in Hong Kong.

Hillside Escalator Links and Elevator Systems

The Central Mid-levels Escalator Link, Fortress Hill Pedestrian Link, Centre Street Escalator Link and Yuet Wah Street Pedestrian Linkage help pedestrians access hilly terrain. A pedestrian link at Tsz Wan Shan was fully opened for public use in October, while three elevator systems, in Kowloon City, Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung, are under construction and slated for completion from 2019 onwards. A study began in end-2017 to review and improve the assessment mechanism for hillside escalator links and elevator systems, and on this basis to select suitable proposals for implementation,

Improving Pedestrian Environment

Detailed design work is being carried out for a proposed elevated pedestrian corridor along the Yuen Long Town Nullah. In Mong Kok, investigations for a proposed footbridge system are continuing.

Universal Accessibility Programme

Where technically feasible, barrier-free access facilities such as lifts and ramps are installed at footbridges, elevated walkways and subways maintained by the Highways Department. Lifts or standard ramps are added to public walkways that have neither standard barrier-free access

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