Hong Kong plan for shopping zone barriers sparks debate over access, congestion
A HK$5 million (US$641,000) plan to install crash barriers in Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay shopping district is expected to improve pedestrian safety, but could also worsen congestion and restrict access for delivery workers and wheelchair users, according to a district councillor and nearby businesses. Wan Chai district councillor Peggy Lee Pik-yee agreed on Wednesday…
Wan Chai district councillor Peggy Lee Pik-yee agreed on Wednesday with the government’s plan to introduce about 60 bollards in the area, but said the move needed to meet residential and commercial needs while strengthening public safety.
She also warned that installation works could disrupt pedestrian flows and asked the government to provide more information on expected crowds and police presence, urging relevant departments to be mindful of “unnecessary delays”.
Authorities earlier submitted a proposal to install the bollards outside Sogo department store in Causeway Bay and some pedestrian areas as a protective measure against potential vehicle-ramming attacks targeting pedestrians.
“News reports have shown that, for whatever reason, vehicles had made their way onto [the area’s] pavements in the past. Also, some drivers might not have been familiar with the pedestrian zone and entered unwittingly,” Lee said.
“I believe that the government’s fundamental premise in this proposal is the same as ours, that is to ensure pedestrian safety.”
