Following the previous article on improving HK’s traffic management (see link), more ideas have bubble up or were received from reader feedback. So now we follow up with some more commonsense suggestions:
Safety über alles! vs the need to pity pedestrian hearing?
Hong Kong’s pedestrian traffic signal sounds may be viewed as abrasive, even
stressful to hear for road crossing public. When more than one crosswalk exists
in close quarters, the overlapping noises create an overwhelming acoustic cacophony
even. Could HK civil servants be too fervent in achieving their road safety
mission at the expense of other stakeholders (eg residents living above
crossings)?
In contrast, many other countries use gentler, softer signal sounds that alert pedestrians while keeping the experience pleasant: Japan, Mexico, and Spain employ relaxing bird chirps, while Thailand uses rhythmic beeps or melodic clicks. These quieter, more soothing alternatives are given below for you to compare:
Table 1: best practice signal sounds around the world
|
Style |
Link
to video (time stamp) |
Sound
imitates |
|
|
(2:03) |
Bird
chirping |
|
|
(4:10) |
Soft
melody |
|
|
(4:31) |
Bird chirping |
|
|
(6:36) |
Bird
chirping |
|
|
(7:25) |
Soft
beats |
Source: global comparison video here
Extreme nanny state molly coddling, HK style?
Since July 2022, HK has seen some 1,600 red-light projectors installed
at pedestrian crossings ‘to enhance pedestrian safety’.
|
Figure 1: double red crossing
lights not enough, let’s carpet the pavement with even more red lights! |
But human nature dictates that such red carpet lighting will be
ineffective at best: research by the University of Nottingham (link) suggests that 90% of pedestrians will ignore projector lights, often
crossing after checking for traffic rather than following the signal.
These well-meaning bright lights cause nuisance to nearby residents as
well – a complaint letter sent by Wan Chai District Councillor Lam Wai-Kong
(Figure 2) is a case in point. Of course, anyone who goes to the length
to complain is a very small minority of affected residents, most may just grin
and bear:
|
Figure 2: complaint letter on light pollution |
In typical paternalistic fashion dispensing other people’s money, the
Transport authorities has already spent HK$9.59 million deploying these light
projectors which not only needs repairs and replacement, but will in the
meantime incur significant electricity costs as they are left on all day, every
day of the year.
For argument’s sake, if each such projector is rated 200W, it will use
1,752 kWh of electricity per year. At the current initial deployment levels,
the scheme is already costing upwards of $1.7m in tax payer money (Table 2
below). For some pet safety imperative which is not even seen elsewhere in the
world for a widely travelled road user such as your correspondent!
Table 2: Estimated cost based on CLP:
|
|
Ref |
Calculations |
|
Annual
consumption of 200W bulb (kWh) |
A |
200x24x365/1,000
= 1,752 |
|
Per kWh
cost (rate + fuel)* |
B |
($1.1
+ $0.39) = $1.49 |
|
Annual
cost per bulb |
C=AxB |
1,752
x 1.49 = $2,610.48 |
|
Total
cost for tax payers (650 bulbs) |
Cx650 |
$2,610.48
x 650 = $1,696,812 |
*using cheaper CLP pricing, current rates here: CLP & HK Electric
Hong Kong seems hell bent on controlling road user
behaviour in a quest for 100% safety, at great costs to their convenience and
road system efficiency. Another recent example of such idiotic (let alone
unpopular) policy is well captured in the newly created crime of not
putting on safety belts on public buses – thankfully now suspended (see here). This is the kind of condescending governance mentality the powers
that be must change if Hong Kong is to function like a world city?
Countdown
Timers for Pedestrians too?
Our original article suggested using countdown timers for cars (link), but why not extend that to pedestrians too? All the benefits of
timers for cars are applicable for pedestrians as well:
|
Figure 3: Countdown Timers
|
‘Turn on red’ long over due for HK?
Another form of HK traffic management improvement should be familiar for
regular travellers to North America: the ability for cars to turn at cross
roads when the forward traffic signal is red, as illustrated here:
|
Figure 4: How left-turn on red works |
Basically when turning left (or right if you are looking at American
system) when the forward light is red as shown by the green arrow above.
There are a number of benefits for such an arrangement (eg found in research
from International
Journal of Transportation Science and Technology), generally improving traffic flow and overall cross road capacity.
One good example in HK can be found at the Jordan
Road – Wui Man Road junction in Yau Ma Tei. The current outdated intersection
controls creates significant vehicle tail backs during busy periods, with
traffic coming out of the Western Tunnel heading Eastwards through Jordan Road
lacking the ability to be directed northwards (ie. Turning left in Figure 4
below), even when cross traffic is generally very thin. This area is additionally
infamous for its multiple red-light crossings within a short stretch, leading
to frequent stops.
|
Figure 5: Jordan Road traffic should benefit from Left turn on red big
time |
HK is one of the jurisdictions where turn on red is
prohibited, even though this arrangement is widely practised in China. With
increasing integration into its hinterland, now is the opportune moment to make
that upgrade.
There may be many other areas we can improve HK’s transport experience, we will write about them when we have a chance. If you feel like helping our city move ahead, then write to the administrators or policy makers and lobby for changes…
The author would like to thank Chau Chak Kwan from
The City University of Hong Kong majoring in Global Business Systems Management
and Chan Hoi Ki from The City University of Hong Kong majoring in Finance for
assisting in data collection and analysis of this article.
Extra material
based on a University of Hong Kong study suggests
these devices could reduce red-light jumping by 25%, as they effectively https://english.dotdotnews.com/a/202306/23/AP649541cee4b08eeabfe03db8.html
