Advanced transport technology and pedestrian safety promoted

An exhibition to give the public a better idea of how the Transport Department (TD) is working to provide an improved environment for pedestrians and to make wider use of advanced information and telecommunication technologies on transport services will be held at Hong Kong MTR station (site B) from tomorrow (January 24) to January 26.

A TD spokesman said: "The territory wide roving exhibition first held at Chai Wan MTR station from January 21 to 23 was well received by the public. It continues at Hong Kong MTR station on January 24 for three days and will be concluded at Olympic MTR station from January 27 to 29."

He said: "The objectives of the event are to introduce Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to the public, which enhance the safety, efficiency, reliability, user and environmental friendliness of the transport system. It also helps promote better public understanding the importance of pedestrian environment."

Two sets of panels each has six specially designed display boards carrying the pictorial messages of Pedestrian Improvement Schemes (PIS), application of ITS, a smart way to travel and a smart way for safety and efficiency will be set up at the venue.

He said: "On PIS, following the successful implementation of the scheme in Causeway Bay in early 2000, the department has further extended the schemes ranging from full-time pedestrian streets to part-time pedestrian streets as well as various traffic calming streets to other districts."

"Areas with implemented or planned pedestrian improvement schemes include Mong Kok, Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Stanley, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Sham Shui Po and Shek Wu Hui. Apart from these, the department will continue to investigate more areas where we consider them suitable for the schemes," he said.

On ITS, he said the system may be new to the public in daily life. However, it is widely used in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

He said: "The rapid advances of technology since the early '90s has provided us vast opportunities for innovation on traffic management and for improvement in transport services, and to maximize the utilization of limited road space."

Under the Smart Way for Safety and Efficiency initiative, the priority is to have comprehensive traffic control and surveillance coverage over the territory and to instigate territorial-wide coordination among control centres for traffic and incident management.

Also on display is an introduction to a centralized data warehouse which will be set up by end 2003 to provide a trip planning service to the public.

He encouraged the public especially students to visit the exhibition so as to keep themselves abreast of what a safe pedestrian environment exists in their residence and highly-advanced information and telecommunication technologies on transport.

Leaflets printed for the exhibition are available at the venue, Licensing Offices of the Transport Department and Public Enquiry Services Offices of the Home Affairs Department.

End/Wednesday, January 23, 2002