Bike sharing would be great for Hong Kong commuters travelling short distances

There has been a lot of discussion of late in Hong Kong about the growing popularity of bike-sharing and the problem of bikes parked or left illegally in public places.

Officials have responded by saying they will tighten regulations for bike-sharing services. But the problem of illegal bike parking has been with us for a long time, especially in the New Territories.

The problem has become worse with more bike-sharing firms starting up, and is now affecting urban areas. Last week, I saw that one bicycle owned by the bike-share operator gobee. bike had been left leaning on a lamp post at Lam Tin.

Insufficient designated areas lead to this illegal parking. But the root of the problem seems to be the lack of civic-mindedness among bike users. Many bikes used by residents of village houses in the New Territories are often chained to the railings near MTR stations such as Tai Po, Sha Tin and Ma On Shan. Some people leave their bikes there instead of storing them at home, on the pretext that there is not enough space in their flat.

Measures such as adding more parking areas and imposing tougher penalties for illegal parking can alleviate the problem. However, educating bike users about civic behaviour is also essential. They should not leave bikes wherever they like.

The government has a proactive role to play by supporting bike-riding, particularly encouraging it among commuters travelling short distances.