My Operabicycle commuting in hong kong
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 8:30:09 AM
As a bicycle commuter in hong kong, i am often faced with challenges. In this post, I want to assess my accessibility as a bicycle commuter on the road and on the public transport system.
Why I commute on bikes
The simple reason is to save energy. I used be a motor vehicle driver for more than 10 years. I stopped owning a car 5 years ago and stopped driving one 3 years ago. I do occasionally drive when on holidays. The last time I drove was last year when vacationing in Phuket, Thailand where I drove a motorbike for 3 days.
The other reason is to stay healthy. Riding a bike is always a good exercise.
Another reason is that sometimes it is quicker to ride a bicycle during peak hours and in heavy traffic because you can cascade through it. You gain net transport time only if you combine bike ride with use of public transport unless your destination is within one or two MTR stations' reach.
The last reason is to save money. I live in Homantin and I can commute to anywhere on my bike between Tsim Sha Tsui, Mei Foo and Kowloon City without having to pay any transport fares.
Storage & Placement
The best storage is at home. Daily bike commuters may find it easier to lock it on the street, at the nearest MTR station or near the office. Hong Kong has very few designated (meaning legal) parking space, except in the New Territories (e.g. Tai Wai, Shatin, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, etc.) and on some outlying islands. Placing your bicycle (suppposedly locked to a permnanent structure in a public space) anywhere else for a prolonged period of time (e.g. more than 24 hours) can be illegal. I have been given notice of removal (on the basis that I was 'illegally occupying public land' by attaching my bicycle to part of a permanent structure of public space such as a lamp post or parking meter) by the Lands Department when locking my commuter bicycle on the street. I imagine that is usually a result of complaints on the part of nearby tenants / occupiers / shops. I do not think the police or the Lands Department would regularly check for illegal occupation of public space by bicycles. Parking at MTR exits is usually OK in my experience due to the short period of time of 'illegal occupation'. I have managed to find some space to 'park' my bike without receiving complaints / notices. That does not mean such parking is legal. The risk is that my bicycle can be removed and confiscated. This situation is not ideal. I can live with that though.
When you lock your bicycle and leave it on the street, always use a U-lock (costing around HK$250) or chain lock. Anything less is going leave you with the risk of your bicycle being stolen. I have lost 3 bicycles because of that. Moreover, do not leave any unmountable accessories on your bicycle. They are targets of theft as well.
Transporting a bike from home, via the elevator to the street can be a problem for some. Fortunately, I live in an old building (唐樓), which means I would not be stuck in the cramped space of an elevator and cause an inconvenience to other residents in the same building. I guess many residents would not mind too much. The best way is to be polite and considerate while transporting and to check with the building management first.
Riding on the road
Given the accident in 2005 of a biker being hit to his death, bikers are more concerned about safety while riding on the road. I have had no problem riding on the road so far. I think my advice is - if you notice you are relatively slow compared to the traffic you are in, try to ride a bit on the left of the slow lane to make overtaking by other vehicles easier. In normal circumstances, ride in the middle of the slow lane so as to let other vehicles notice you.
I will expand this section as and when I find more information.
In normal circumstances, I will follow the rules of motor vehicles. In others, I may follow that of a pedestrian. In such circumstances, I should get off from my bicycle and push it along. For example, if I need to U-turn at a red light, I may first stop my bike at a red light, get off from it, push it along while crossing the road. After crossing to the other side of the road, I may get on the bike again, thus making effectively a U-turn without following the path of a motor vehicle. I shall take note of all possible moving traffic and pedestrians while getting on and off the bike.
On public transport
Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) (2745 4466)
On board luggage size has to be smaller than 0.1 cubic metre
Luggage size for Long Win E/S/N routes: 71x56x26cm
Bicycle: cannot be carried on board, based on KMB policy, even foldable. Determined by driver on safety grounds, i.e. if foldable bicycles are put in a bag, may not be noticed by driver.
First Bus (2136 8888)
Luggage size: 0.1 cubic metre
Bicycle: not allowed because of insurance restrictions.
City Bus (2873 0818)
Luggage size: 0.1 cubic metre
Bicycle: foldable, subject to 0.1 cubic metre, if space allows.
Minibus
There does not seem to be any specific restrictions. In fact, I have in more than one occassions carried my foldable bicycle on board minibuses.
Mass Transit Railway (MTR) trains (2881 8888)
All routes:
Luggage size: Length + Width + Height < 170cm, any one side < 130cm. Such luggage is allowed free on board.
East Rail:
Rule for all routes applies.
If Length + Width + Height = 170 to 190cm, pay HK$20 & 40 respectively during non-peak and peak hours.
If Length + Width + Height > 190cm, not allowed. Luggage service is provided by 3rd party (Tai Sun Luggage Service +852 2362 3380) at a charge of HK$35 for any oversize (L+W+H>190cm) luggage weighing less than 30kg for the trip between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu.
Ferries
Kowloon - Hong Kong
Tsim Sha Tsui to Wanchai (Star Ferry) - allowed in lower deck only, HK$2.2 passenger, free for bike.
Tsim Sha Tsui to Central (Star Ferry) - allowed in lower deck only, HK$2.2 passenger, free for bike.
Hung Hom to Wanchai (Star Ferry) - HK$6 passenger, HK$12 bike.
Hung Hom to Central (Star Ferry) - HK$6 passenger, HK$12 bike.
All Star Ferry fares (just updated March 14, 2008) and schedule can be found here.
Kwun Tong to North Point (Fortune Ferry 2994 8155) - HK$5 passenger, HK$10 bike.
Kowloon City to North Point (First Ferry), HK$7 bike
Hung Hom to North Point (First Ferry), HK$7 bike
Outlying islands
First Ferry 2131 8181
Central to Cheung Chau, HK$15 bike
Central to Peng Chau, HK$12 bike
Central to Mui Wo, HK$14 bike
Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry 2815 6063
Central to Lamma (slow boat to Yung Shue Wan, all boats to Sok Ku Wan), HK$11 bike
**Note: all the above information is obtained and/or verified via the customer service hotlines provided by the relevant transport operators. It is as good as of the date of posting.
Why I commute on bikes
The simple reason is to save energy. I used be a motor vehicle driver for more than 10 years. I stopped owning a car 5 years ago and stopped driving one 3 years ago. I do occasionally drive when on holidays. The last time I drove was last year when vacationing in Phuket, Thailand where I drove a motorbike for 3 days.
The other reason is to stay healthy. Riding a bike is always a good exercise.
Another reason is that sometimes it is quicker to ride a bicycle during peak hours and in heavy traffic because you can cascade through it. You gain net transport time only if you combine bike ride with use of public transport unless your destination is within one or two MTR stations' reach.
The last reason is to save money. I live in Homantin and I can commute to anywhere on my bike between Tsim Sha Tsui, Mei Foo and Kowloon City without having to pay any transport fares.
Storage & Placement
The best storage is at home. Daily bike commuters may find it easier to lock it on the street, at the nearest MTR station or near the office. Hong Kong has very few designated (meaning legal) parking space, except in the New Territories (e.g. Tai Wai, Shatin, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, etc.) and on some outlying islands. Placing your bicycle (suppposedly locked to a permnanent structure in a public space) anywhere else for a prolonged period of time (e.g. more than 24 hours) can be illegal. I have been given notice of removal (on the basis that I was 'illegally occupying public land' by attaching my bicycle to part of a permanent structure of public space such as a lamp post or parking meter) by the Lands Department when locking my commuter bicycle on the street. I imagine that is usually a result of complaints on the part of nearby tenants / occupiers / shops. I do not think the police or the Lands Department would regularly check for illegal occupation of public space by bicycles. Parking at MTR exits is usually OK in my experience due to the short period of time of 'illegal occupation'. I have managed to find some space to 'park' my bike without receiving complaints / notices. That does not mean such parking is legal. The risk is that my bicycle can be removed and confiscated. This situation is not ideal. I can live with that though.
When you lock your bicycle and leave it on the street, always use a U-lock (costing around HK$250) or chain lock. Anything less is going leave you with the risk of your bicycle being stolen. I have lost 3 bicycles because of that. Moreover, do not leave any unmountable accessories on your bicycle. They are targets of theft as well.
Transporting a bike from home, via the elevator to the street can be a problem for some. Fortunately, I live in an old building (唐樓), which means I would not be stuck in the cramped space of an elevator and cause an inconvenience to other residents in the same building. I guess many residents would not mind too much. The best way is to be polite and considerate while transporting and to check with the building management first.
Riding on the road
Given the accident in 2005 of a biker being hit to his death, bikers are more concerned about safety while riding on the road. I have had no problem riding on the road so far. I think my advice is - if you notice you are relatively slow compared to the traffic you are in, try to ride a bit on the left of the slow lane to make overtaking by other vehicles easier. In normal circumstances, ride in the middle of the slow lane so as to let other vehicles notice you.
I will expand this section as and when I find more information.
In normal circumstances, I will follow the rules of motor vehicles. In others, I may follow that of a pedestrian. In such circumstances, I should get off from my bicycle and push it along. For example, if I need to U-turn at a red light, I may first stop my bike at a red light, get off from it, push it along while crossing the road. After crossing to the other side of the road, I may get on the bike again, thus making effectively a U-turn without following the path of a motor vehicle. I shall take note of all possible moving traffic and pedestrians while getting on and off the bike.
On public transport
Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) (2745 4466)
On board luggage size has to be smaller than 0.1 cubic metre
Luggage size for Long Win E/S/N routes: 71x56x26cm
Bicycle: cannot be carried on board, based on KMB policy, even foldable. Determined by driver on safety grounds, i.e. if foldable bicycles are put in a bag, may not be noticed by driver.
First Bus (2136 8888)
Luggage size: 0.1 cubic metre
Bicycle: not allowed because of insurance restrictions.
City Bus (2873 0818)
Luggage size: 0.1 cubic metre
Bicycle: foldable, subject to 0.1 cubic metre, if space allows.
Minibus
There does not seem to be any specific restrictions. In fact, I have in more than one occassions carried my foldable bicycle on board minibuses.
Mass Transit Railway (MTR) trains (2881 8888)
All routes:
Luggage size: Length + Width + Height < 170cm, any one side < 130cm. Such luggage is allowed free on board.
East Rail:
Rule for all routes applies.
If Length + Width + Height = 170 to 190cm, pay HK$20 & 40 respectively during non-peak and peak hours.
If Length + Width + Height > 190cm, not allowed. Luggage service is provided by 3rd party (Tai Sun Luggage Service +852 2362 3380) at a charge of HK$35 for any oversize (L+W+H>190cm) luggage weighing less than 30kg for the trip between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu.
Ferries
Kowloon - Hong Kong
Tsim Sha Tsui to Wanchai (Star Ferry) - allowed in lower deck only, HK$2.2 passenger, free for bike.
Tsim Sha Tsui to Central (Star Ferry) - allowed in lower deck only, HK$2.2 passenger, free for bike.
Hung Hom to Wanchai (Star Ferry) - HK$6 passenger, HK$12 bike.
Hung Hom to Central (Star Ferry) - HK$6 passenger, HK$12 bike.
All Star Ferry fares (just updated March 14, 2008) and schedule can be found here.
Kwun Tong to North Point (Fortune Ferry 2994 8155) - HK$5 passenger, HK$10 bike.
Kowloon City to North Point (First Ferry), HK$7 bike
Hung Hom to North Point (First Ferry), HK$7 bike
Outlying islands
First Ferry 2131 8181
Central to Cheung Chau, HK$15 bike
Central to Peng Chau, HK$12 bike
Central to Mui Wo, HK$14 bike
Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry 2815 6063
Central to Lamma (slow boat to Yung Shue Wan, all boats to Sok Ku Wan), HK$11 bike
**Note: all the above information is obtained and/or verified via the customer service hotlines provided by the relevant transport operators. It is as good as of the date of posting.
