LettersHong Kong must build bridges for people, not just cars

Hong Kong is on the verge of building two new engineering landmarks: the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link and the Tsing Lung Bridge. While these are symbols of progress and greater connectivity, their blueprints reveal a glaring, outdated omission: they completely exclude pedestrian walkways and cycling paths (again).

This oversight is symptomatic of a broader culture within the Highways Department, which consistently prioritises motor vehicles over human-centric design. We see it on our mega structures and we see it in our neighbourhoods.

Take the new public housing development along Ying Yip Road in Hang Hau. Thousands of new residents will soon be walking along this road to the MTR station and other facilities. Yet, the newly widened road fails to include a simple continuous tree canopy to provide shade. With our scorching summers, asking citizens to hike along unshaded pathways discourages walking. Once residents move in, they can be expected to call for shade and put pressure on the district council to retrofit walkways with covers.

The Highways Department also rejects active mobility on major crossings including the planned Tsing Lung Bridge and the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link. It cites structural constraints or high wind speeds. Yet, global precedents debunk these arguments. From Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge to New York’s Hudson River crossings, multi-modal links are standard practice. These cities prove that accommodating locals and tourists, pedestrians and cyclists is an asset, not a burden.

Furthermore, the technical excuses fail to hold up. The Tsing Lung Bridge features a complex, asymmetrical design tailored for airport flight paths. Incorporating a light-gauge, cantilevered pedestrian boardwalk – or utilising the lower-deck service platforms – is entirely within our engineering capabilities.