Can Cycling Thrive in Hong Kong?

[Golem]

To increase commuting by bike, I'd suggest to move businesses to where the cycling infrastructure already exists vs moving cycling infrastructure to the already very dense business areas. These areas should then be further developed for mixed use development. As it currently stands, many people commute far distances to urban areas. Good biking infrastructure will not convince those people to switch to bikes. People in urban areas may benefit, but then again, the additional infrastructure for safe biking and bicycle storage would just further exacerbate foot and road congestion.

That's the complete opposite of successful models elsewhere... In a place like HK where there are reclamation projects galore, you could easily put a bike path on the shore. They started doing it in Vancouver in the early 80s and now there's a continuous path that goes along the water front into Stanley Park for over 20km. Bike sharing in most cities is done in the CBD, that's where you have the largest demand. The idea is to get polluting vehicles off the road in polluted congested areas not in the suburbs. Unlike HK, what developed cities do is to allow the long distance commuter to bring bikes on public transport in order to use them in the CBD. Here they discourage or ban it outright.

[GeoTommy]

riding bikes in the middle of winter when it's -20...

Biking in the cold is nice. Biking in the heat and ending up all sweaty/sticky, not so nice.

The more people that commutes will start to get offices to incorporate showers in offices and make spaces for storage.

I would like to see that too, but wishful thinking at best with the cost to add shower stalls current office buildings, redo the piping in older buildings and make extra storage room in already cramped spaces.

Take a towel and clean shirt to work.

I could see that working maybe for people who already need to change at work like restaurant staff. But for phone-zombie commuters who wear a suit or something fancy, I'm not so sure.

you could easily put a bike path on the shore.

The proposed Harbourfront Cycleway would be a good start, but after parking your bike near the harbour, you would still have to walk or take a minibus to your office, so not that convenient. Maybe an elevated cycleway above the tram lines would work better?

Cycling doesn't have to focus on commuter cyclist going to work.

I think HK would need that if you want cycling to reach critical mass.

[orel100x]

I'd be happy to cycle, humidity, heat and all, but I have nowhere to store a bicycle...

[Golem]

Biking in the cold is nice. Biking in the heat and ending up all sweaty/sticky, not so nice.

I think you would find that most people would rather cycle in 35 degree heat than in -20... Also worth noting that the temperatures in both Montreal in Toronto occasionally go over 35C in the summer with high humidity and it doesn't deter that many people from riding. As pointed out, it's far more comfortable to ride in that weather than to walk...

[jgl]

I think you would find that most people would rather cycle in 35 degree heat than in -20... Also worth noting that the temperatures in both Montreal in Toronto occasionally go over 35C in the summer with high humidity and it doesn't deter that many people from riding. As pointed out, it's far more comfortable to ride in that weather than to walk...

I'd be happier riding down to about -5 than 35 + 90% humidity, as long as the roads are de-iced. Not sure about riding in serious cold as I've never tried it. Though I do find dressing effectively for cold weather far easier than trying to dress down for the heat.

I'd be happy to cycle, humidity, heat and all, but I have nowhere to store a bicycle...

Have you seen how small a Brompton folds up? They are absolutely tiny.

[orel100x]

Have you seen how small a Brompton folds up? They are absolutely tiny.

Yes, also ridiculously expensive. And my flat is so small that even Brompton would be hard to fit.

[greenmark]

35 degree+ heat applies here for a two or three months. Almost every city in the world has at least 2-3 months of weather that is not ideal for cycling in.
Climate is not an excuse.

[jgl]

Yes, also ridiculously expensive. And my flat is so small that even Brompton would be hard to fit.

That's true, you'd be looking at ten grand, used.

I used to store one under the dining room table.

[TheBrit]

Climate is just one of many reasons why commuting by cycling is dead in the water for Hong Kong.

[jgl]

35 degree+ heat applies here for a two or three months. Almost every city in the world has at least 2-3 months of weather that is not ideal for cycling in.
Climate is not an excuse.

Do you ride through summers here? Someone mentioned they did, can't remember if it was you. I used to until quite regularly. Recreation, not for commuting.

Climate is one of several reasons (others having already been mentioned in this thread, and ad nauseum in similar threads through the years).