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■本月初連續發生單車奪命意外，反映本港的單車安全規管存在極大漏洞。資料圖片
Tighten regulation on cycling to plug the loophole in road safety
一名女子本月初騎單車上班，在工作單位附近過馬路時，遭一輛專線小巴撞倒捲入車底傷重身亡，成為同區4日內第2宗小巴輾斃騎單車人士意外。單車奪命意外連續發生並非偶然，反映本港的單車安全規管存在極大漏洞。雖然目前有法例管束單車行駛安全，但執行卻形同虛設。當局必須汲取血的教訓，加強對單車安全監管，並且嚴厲執法，確保單車人士與其他司機一樣遵守交通法例。同時，本港地狹車多，當局應考慮禁止單車進入繁忙路段，只准在單車徑及指定路段行車，以策安全。
根據警方數字，今年頭半年因騎單車受傷的人數高達946人，並造成8人死亡，當中並未計及近日的兩位死者，而同期因電單車意外死亡的人數有5人。本港騎單車的危險性竟較騎電單車為高，原因正是電單車有嚴格規管，相反單車卻付之闕如。目前《道路交通（交通管制）條例》和《道路使用者守則》等都有訂明單車人士的守則，但徒有法例卻沒有執法自然難有阻嚇力。當局一直把騎單車只視作市民休閒的活動，令不少單車使用者對道路安全疏忽大意，在熙來攘往的車道隨時可見到不少單車左穿右插，險象環生。
A female cyclist was killed while riding a bicycle to work earlier this month. She was knocked down by a green minibus and trapped underneath the vehicle while she was crossing the road near her workplace on her bicycle. She was seriously injured and died consequently. This had been the second case in four days in the same district that a minibus took the life of a cyclist in an accident. The continual occurrence of fatal traffic accidents involving cyclists cannot be seen as pure coincidence. This series of accidents has revealed the big loophole in road safety regulations regarding bicycle use in Hong Kong. Although there exist legislations that cover the safety of riding bicycles, these legislations seem like null and void as there is no real enforcement. The authorities must learn from these tragic accidents and tighten the regulation on bicycle safety. The government should enforce the legislations with great severity to make sure that cyclists observe traffic rules just as other drivers. In addition, as the roads in Hong Kong are relatively narrow and the traffic is heavy, the authorities should consider prohibiting cyclists from entering busy road sections and confining bicycle riding to cycle lanes and designated road sections for the sake of safety.
According to data released by the police, there were 946 injuries and 8 deaths associated with cycling in the first half of this year, not including the two recent cases of deaths mentioned above. However, the death toll involving motorcyclists in the same period was only 5. It is more dangerous riding a bicycle than a motorcycle in Hong Kong as motorcycles are subject to very stringent regulation while bicycles are not. At present, both the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations and the Road Users' Code have stipulated rules that bicycle users should obey. Even so, these rules and regulations will not have any deterrent effect if they are simply in place but not enforced. As bicycle riding has always been treated by the government as a pastime for the citizens, bicycle users tend to be negligent in terms of road safety. It is a not uncommon to see in Hong Kong cyclists weaving through heavy traffic on busy vehicle lanes, causing dangers to themselves as well as other road users.
■Translation by 東明 tungming23@gmail.com
逢周五見報
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