With abandoned bicycles cluttering public parking areas, lawmakers are urging the creation of designated parking zones for shared bikes to curb illegal parking on sidewalks and streets.
Despite having around 57,000 public bicycle parking spaces in areas like Yuen Long, Sha Tin, and Tseung Kwan O, many are consistently full due to competition between abandoned and shared bikes.
Overflowing parking areas in Tseun Kwan O
The situation is particularly acute in Tseung Kwan O, where all 5,500 spots are frequently occupied, with numerous rusted and chained-together abandoned bicycles compounding the problem.
Similar problems occur at the parking lot outside Tseung Kwan O and Po Lam Station, where shared bikes often end up on the roadside.
District Councillor Christine Fong Kwok-shan highlighted enforcement challenges, noting that while government regulations limit parking to 24 hours, poor management has led to widespread non-compliance.
"The recent entry of a new shared bike operator has intensified competition for limited spaces, resulting in illegal parking and safety hazards," Fong explained.
She proposed implementing a bicycle registration system to better track and notify owners of improperly parked bikes.
LocoBike: Government sensitive to shared bikes violation
LocoBike CEO Ken Ching Chun-ho acknowledged his company's efforts to relocate bikes based on usage patterns and remove improperly parked units.
However, he criticized what he called disproportionate enforcement.
"Authorities respond quickly to shared bike violations while allowing abandoned private bikes to remain indefinitely," Ching said, while he revealed ongoing negotiations with residential estates to establish dedicated parking areas.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Stanley Li Sai-wing emphasized the growing need for structured solutions.
"We must create designated shared bike parking near MTR stations and residential complexes," Li said, noting that shared bikes' high turnover rate means they require relatively little additional space.
He also called for more frequent clearance of abandoned bikes and public education campaigns to promote proper parking etiquette.
(Phoebe Poon)
