Bike parking areas, generally often called “bone spots,” have all the time been in brief provide, resulting in frequent circumstances of overcrowding. Many bikes are pressured to park in again alleys or on pedestrian paths. In the present day, [Your Company Name] explores the extreme scarcity of bike parking areas in Hong Kong and its causes, and recommends 3 apps to assist motorbike riders discover parking spots extra simply.
Bike Parking Difficulties: 3 Essential Causes
1. Excessive Demand and Low Provide
The first motive for the issue find motorbike parking is the inadequate variety of parking areas. As of February 2023, Hong Kong had 74,815 licensed bikes however solely 38,563 motorbike parking areas, with solely 11,654 of those being roadside spots. The ratio of bike parking areas to licensed automobiles is simply 0.52, in comparison with 1.11 for personal automobile parking areas, indicating a big shortfall.
2. Deserted Automobiles Lowering Area Availability
Bike parking spots are free, which has led to many bikes occupying areas for prolonged intervals. In line with the Highway Site visitors (Parking) Laws, anybody who parks a automobile in a parking spot for greater than 24 hours is committing an offense, with a most high quality of HK$2,000. Sadly, many bikes, together with these with expired licenses, are left deserted in parking spots. Dealing with these long-parked bikes is cumbersome, because the police sometimes use chalk marks to point the parking spot and solely difficulty a ticket after confirming the automobile has not moved inside 24 hours.
3. Lack of Hourly Bike Parking in Personal Heaps
In line with authorities paperwork, non-public parking tons supply over 20,000 motorbike areas, however most can be found solely on a month-to-month rental foundation. There are only a few non-public tons providing hourly rental for bikes, and a few even prohibit bikes from getting into for short-term parking. Because of this, discovering an hourly parking spot is difficult, making motorbike riders really feel like “rats crossing the road.”
Authorities Measures to Improve Bike Parking
To handle the scarcity of bike parking areas, the Transport and Logistics Bureau has proposed the next measures:
- Make the most of house below elevated bridges to create motorbike parking spots.
- Open extra authorities constructing parking areas to the general public throughout non-office hours.
- Discover appropriate roadside areas for motorbike parking, relying on site visitors circumstances.
- Apply the precept of “a number of makes use of for one location” to supply public motorbike parking in appropriate authorities, institutional, or group amenities and public leisure areas.
- Implement laws to mandate the deregistration of deserted automobiles.
The Lands Division is gathering proof associated to deserted bikes, together with data from the Transport Division and different vital data. After consulting with the Division of Justice, it might take into account prosecution in circumstances with ample proof to strengthen deterrence in opposition to unlawful abandonment.
Moreover, the Transport Division plans to amend laws to optimize automobile registration and licensing. It’s proposed that automobile house owners should renew the license for registered automobiles which were unlicensed for over two years, dismantle or completely take away such automobiles from Hong Kong, or apply for an exemption. This new regulation is anticipated to be carried out in 2024 after the required amendments and system enhancements.
3 Really helpful Bike Parking Apps
1. Google Maps
Most smartphones include Google Maps pre-installed. Merely seek for “motorbike parking” on Google Maps to view close by parking spots. The app’s road view and navigation options make it simple to make use of.
2. MotoPark
MotoPark reveals each motorbike parking spots and parking tons, together with their areas, charges, and phone numbers. It additionally offers images of the parking tons and navigation, which is useful for riders unfamiliar with the world. Moreover, it gives real-time site visitors updates, fast snapshots, and fuel station areas.
3. Hong Kong Journey Straightforward
This app means that you can seek for roadside motorbike parking spots by road title. You may simplify the map show by filtering out different automobile varieties, making it simpler for riders to view obtainable parking areas.
