We are calling our members, including Civic Exchange, Designing Hong Kong, Clean Air Network and other NGOs focused on natural life in the fast lane, to support a shared vision for walking in Central.
“We have such great momentum,” says Frisinger, pointing out that the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has already pledged HK$5 million of the total HK$12 million required for the charity’s flagship proposal, Sheung Wan Fiesta.
The fiesta, planned for the end of 2020, would see two blocks of Des Voeux Road Central closed for 90 days in a large scale event to make a big impact and to show the potential for the proposal.
Walk DVRC will run out of money by July, says its CEO Jennifer Walker Frisinger, as core family foundation donors shift to poverty and hunger charities during the pandemic.
Unless new funding can be found, Walk DVRC will forfeit 20 years of work to pedestrianize Des Voeux Road Central, a concept that has moved slowly since first proposed in 2000.
The problems on Des Voeux Road Central include poor roadside air quality, congested road traffic, bad pedestrian environment, lack of greenery and shading, lack of seating and jaywalking black spots leading to a generally poor image of Hong Kong’s Central Business District, while other cities in Asia make advances in these areas.
A 2000 proposal from the Hong Kong Institute of Planners sees a progressive return of the central city to pedestrians and the introduction of good urban design and landscaping.
The proposal calls for a green “tram and pedestrian precinct” on Des Voeux Road Central between Pedder Street and Morrison Street.
The main connecting theme is the greening of the tram route through Des Voeux Road Central by replacing concrete with grass, as has been done in Japan and many European cities.
On 28 April 2014, the Hong Kong Institute of Planners, in collaboration with MVA Hong Kong, CityU and Civic Exchange, released an updated “Tram and Pedestrian Precinct” proposal (originally presented in 2000) to revitalize Central and improve air quality.
“The vision is to create a spectacularly improved environment, with better air quality in the heart of the Central Business District. Fortunately, no properties on Des Voeux Road Central have vehicular access which gives us a unique opportunity to remove almost all vehicles and create a special environment for people and trams. An urban up-grade like this can only be successful if there is a practical traffic plan to go with it – and we have that too.” Ian Brownlee, Fellow Member, Hong Kong Institute of Planners
In early 2013, the Hong Kong Institute of Planners approached the Environment Bureau to see if the “Tram and Pedestrian Precinct” proposal they originally presented in 2000 could be revisited, as Central remained one of the areas of worst air pollution in Hong Kong.
The 2000 study was expanded to look at air quality and both existing and planned transport and safety issues with detailed assessments and proposals prepared by City University on air quality and Hong Kong Institute of Planners on urban-design enhancements with the support of Civic Exchange and funding from WYNG Foundation and ADM Capital Foundation
Implementing the proposal will require full government and public support:
1. View the plan.
2. Visit the HKIP website.
3. Share your views.
The proposal calls for a green “tram and pedestrian precinct” on Des Voeux Road Central between Pedder Street and Morrison Street.
As new MTR lines and the Central-Wanchai Bypass are completed, traffic volumes can be reduced and green space increased while public transport, including buses, can be improved so that Central remains accessible.
The completion of major highway and railway infrastructure between now and 2021 made a reassessment timely, as opportunities were going to arise which would enable significant improvements to be made to Central District.
The problems on Des Voeux Road Central include poor roadside air-quality, congested road traffic, bad pedestrian environment, lack of greenery and shading, lack of seating, jay-walking black spots leading to a generally poor image of Hong Kong’s Central Business District while other cities in Asia make advances in these areas.
“The HKIP calls on the government to take this opportunity to address major pollution and urban environmental problems in Central so that Hong Kong can truly live up to its’ branding as Asia’s World City.”
Clean Air Network is generating support with their online petition.
1. View the plan.
2. Visit the HKIP website.
3. Share your views.
