Untitled - Civic Exchange

Chapter 4:
Strategies for Minimizing Vehicle Trips - Promoting Pedestrianism in Hong Kong
Relatively little has been done to improve pedestrian walkways and other on-street pedestrian facilities,
like plazas, to create a friendly pedestrian environment and to better connect pedestrian zones.
Institutional obstacles
Current institutional arrangements present yet another obstacle to long-term, comprehensive pedestrian
planning in Hong Kong. Numerous government departments are involved in the planning and provision of
pedestrian facilities. 114 For example, the Transport Department is responsible for traffic management issues
at the district level and hence responsible for the provision of pedestrian facilities in relation to pedestrian
usage levels and vehicular traffic flow. The Highways Department (HyD), on the other hand, is responsible
for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the public road system, including sidewalks. 115
Regional Offices of the HyD also look after the maintenance of roads and street furniture. The Planning
Department and the Town Planning Board prepare and approve layout plans and are concerned with the
provision of basic pedestrian facilities, among other planning requirements. While it seems that the
Transport Department has final responsibility for coordinating pedestrian planning, it does not adequately
oversee the planning, design, implementation, and management of pedestrian facilities. The diffusion of
planning and policy-making across government agencies impedes implementation of comprehensive
pedestrian plans. See Chapter 7 for a more detailed discussion of this issue.
Similar coordination problems also exist between the government and various stakeholders, such as the
local community (residents and local businesses), private developers, and professionals. For example, at
the local level, District Councils are consulted on new pedestrian schemes only after plans have been
proposed. Thus, although they are often most aware of local needs, District Councilors are involved in
implementation of government plans, rather than concept development or discussion of specific design
features. Nor does the public have a voice. While it can be argued that the District Councils provide a
channel for local ideas to reach the government, this method of obtaining local input on government
projects is far too passive. Equally, much work remains to be done in fostering a strong public-private
partnership to promote pedestrianism in Hong Kong. The involvement of private developers is crucial
because the design of private development sites affects pedestrian movements and the ways in which
pedestrian networks can be connected. At present, there are no regulations requiring developers to
provide pedestrian facilities or walkways. 116
4.4 Recommendations
In order to promote pedestrianism in Hong Kong, it is necessary to develop a mission statement to direct
policy across different agencies. We recommend that the central objective for pedestrian planning in Hong
Kong be to provide pedestrians with a quality environment for walking to meet mobility and other needs.
This mission statement would allow pedestrian spaces to become an integral part of a livable and
sustainable community. It would provide safe, convenient, and "green" corridors for pedestrian movement.
It would also provide a street space that belongs to the people and is a focal point for social and cultural
interaction.
In terms of transport, pedestrian planning should aim to promote walking as a transport mode, so as to
encourage a shift from motorized trips to walking trips for short distances and to further promote the use
of public transport, as this will make associated journeys by foot safer and more pleasant. In the long-term,
114 Citizens Party (1999), A Walk on the Wild Side: Better Planning for Pedestrians in Hong Kong, Hong Kong,
p.2.
115 Highways Department at , section on departmental overview.
116
Brown, F. (2001), "Pedestrians: the need for a new approach," p.197.
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