Bike parking areas, generally often called “bone spots,” have at all times been in brief provide, resulting in frequent instances of overcrowding. Many bikes are pressured to park in again alleys or on pedestrian paths. At present, [Your Company Name] explores the extreme scarcity of motorbike 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 Primary Causes
1. Excessive Demand and Low Provide
The first cause for the problem to 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 motorbike 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 response to 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 advantageous 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 subject a ticket after confirming the automobile has not moved inside 24 hours.
3. Lack of Hourly Bike Parking in Personal Heaps
In response to authorities paperwork, personal 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 personal 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 Enhance Bike Parking
To handle the scarcity of motorbike parking areas, the Transport and Logistics Bureau has proposed the next measures:
- Make the most of area underneath elevated bridges to create motorbike parking spots.
- Open extra authorities constructing parking areas to the general public throughout non-office hours.
- Discover appropriate roadside places for motorbike parking, relying on 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 neighborhood 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 information from the Transport Division and different mandatory data. After consulting with the Division of Justice, it could take into account prosecution in instances with ample proof to strengthen deterrence towards unlawful abandonment.
Moreover, the Transport Division plans to amend rules to optimize automobile registration and licensing. It’s proposed that automobile homeowners 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 predicted to be applied in 2024 after the mandatory 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 places, charges, and get in touch with 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 visitors updates, fast snapshots, and gasoline station places.
3. Hong Kong Journey Simple
This app lets you seek for roadside motorbike parking spots by road identify. You possibly can simplify the map show by filtering out different automobile varieties, making it simpler for riders to view out there parking areas.