Any one would like to give their precious ideas, comments and suggestions on things to be noted when developing new Cycling Park? 關於發展新單車公園所須要注意事項，請大家不吝提供寶貴意見、批評及建議。
A cycle park needs a sizeable overall area for the devlopment of different basic cycling levels. It should incorporate the follow sections:
a) a large flat area devoid of obstacles for initial teaching where large groups can be taught the basic riding concepts.
b) a mock up road system with junctions, zebra crossings, traffic lights, roundabouts, road markings to teach basic road safety, road sense and to instruct riders their positioning on the road relative to traffic.
c) an area of undulations, slopes, banks and ramps to teach riding control on all types of road conditions.
d) a 'obstacle' course of markers to teach bike control under slow speeds to improve balance.
The bicycle road playground in Siu Lek Yuen and bicycle park in Tai Shui Hang have already incorporated these ideas but both are under-utilised, maybe due to few organised classes with professional instructors. Also, there is no bike hire at the Siu Lek Yuen facility.
Yes Thistle has outlined all the requirements for a cycle park.What is also required are dedicated experienced cyclists to go along there sometimes to give guidance especially to youngsters.
I visited such a facility in UK in the summer and they also had a container with videos showing cyclecraft.
I would be willing to give some of my time to help others.Would anyone else?
I agree having avid cyclists as tutors/instructors would be great for beginner cyclists. And yes I would be willing to offer my free time to this. However, what would be even better are fully trained and qualified professionals who can teach both cycling principles and road safety.
Surely this scope lies within the Hong Kong Police Traffic Division, the Transport Department and possibly also the Road Safety council.
I remember as a child in the UK, we had very active road campaigns like the Tufty Club specially aimed at the young. We also had an obligatory cycling proficiency test which was conducted by the local police. We had to sit both a riding and written test - all at the age of 10!!!
Cycling and road safety go hand in hand and should not be taken lightly. Although we as experienced cyclists can offer alot of valuable advice, we should leave teaching to the pros.
I remember the Pearl Report last year. There was an old man teaching kids somewhere in Hong Kong. To the average person, it looked very good that this experienced cyclist was passing on his skills. All the kids were wearing helmets but most of them had the propped so far back on their heads, it was not protecting the most likely parts of injury - the forehead.
It's minor matters like these which can turn an innocent and well natured gesture into a liability case. This is another reason why the Government are taking the cycling issue AND the road safety issue too lightly.
I remember the Pearl Report last year. There was an old man teaching kids somewhere in Hong Kong. To the average person, it looked very good that this experienced cyclist was passing on his skills. All the kids were wearing helmets but most of them had the propped so far back on their heads, it was not protecting the most likely parts of injury - the forehead.
Good point. I have also noticed that when I watched the TV programme. I have nothing against this old man from Hong Kong Cycling Association but this prove the point that the so-called professional may not always be 100% correct. Some of our members may be even better than most of these 'professionals' at teaching beginners.
This same old man had in the programme stated that Hong Kong Island is not suitable for developing cycling. It is rather disappointing that he had made such conclusion without giving a proper qualification.
My other worry about the teaching organized by Police/TD is that their teaching will over-emphasize the obeyance of the law without consideration of the real world safety issues. One good example is their incorrect advice about the riding distance from the kerb. The other is the braking technique. Cyclist Club's book on braking is a lot more professional than TD's advice (does that come from Hong Kong Cycling Association ?).
A cycle park needs a sizeable overall area for the devlopment of different basic cycling levels. It should incorporate the follow sections:
b) a mock up road system with junctions, zebra crossings, traffic lights, roundabouts, road markings to teach basic road safety, road sense and to instruct riders their positioning on the road relative to traffic.
Good suggestion. Basing on item (b), I would also suggest that some instruction boards be erected at appropriate locations. For example, an instruction board with sound advice on braking technique be erected right before a downhill slope. I believe Cyclist Club won't mind the content of its cycling book be quoted.
Yes Thistle has outlined all the requirements for a cycle park.What is also required are dedicated experienced cyclists to go along there sometimes to give guidance especially to youngsters. I visited such a facility in UK in the summer and they also had a container with videos showing cyclecraft. I would be willing to give some of my time to help others.Would anyone else? Phil
We could do it on a monthly basis and integrate it into the massride, say half an hour before the event.
A cycle park needs a sizeable overall area for the devlopment of different basic cycling levels.
It turns out that the district councilor who initializes this plan is expecting a sizeable park. Good news to Thistle.
If the cycle park is a big one then it should at least include a cycling centre for the following functions:-
basic amenities like lavatories and changing room
lockers for renting
drinking fountains
basic medical facilities for minor injuries
a cycling library containing books and videos on cycling
repair station containing cycling tools
a cycling museum (the problem with this is the difficulty to collect sufficient data about cycling history in Hong Kong and to collect antique bicycles and parts)
cycling equipment such as rollers and trainers together with qualified instructor
information centre where enthusiasts and beginners alike could gather latest information about international bicycle races, latest development in training method and equipment, schedule of training classes, news about various cycling clubs activities and bicycle trips, news about local races and racers
a canteen and/or a coffee/tea shop which not only provides a place to refuel the cyclists but also provides a place of gathering
a shop for the resale of old bikes and components and parts
secure bicycle storage spaces which cyclists have missed so such
The software part of the above would be as important as the hardware part.
The Cycle Park need not be a contiguous piece of land. Separate pieces of land could be utilized by connecting them together through link bridges and paths.
