十八星期「天光Ride」的回顧與感想 (長文)
十八星期「天光Ride」的回顧與感想
Thoughts on ‘Tin Kwong Ride’ after the 18-week urban commuting campaign
天光Ride 已經連續第18個星期進行,不過好像從未和大家正式分享回顧和感受。
(Remarks : 天光Ride 是我們2016年尾與 RideOut 及姚松炎教授發起的港島單車通勤上班活動,詳情)
好記得上年我們中秋單車市集,在油街的屋仔裡和大家公佈這個 idea 的時候,當刻大家踴躍的表情、塞滿人的情景,真的依然記憶猶新。然後我們與 RideOut 去晨早親身試踩幾次,然後我們便開始踏上這個旅程。說真的,這些campaign 我們從未預計有幾多人真的會來,亦沒預計會否「成功」。
一開始的時候,其實我地都怕每次會越踩越少人。因為對新鮮的事情,大家好奇來一兩次很正常。但能否堅持下去才是最大難題。但慢慢地,我地開始認得熟悉的面孔,大家開始能夠直接叫出對方的名字。我們亦開始慢慢感受到大家的真心支持和參與。例如東行線的朋友們,除了大家差不多每次踩完大家一齊開開心心食早餐,平常亦會提供很多意見和討論,提供幫手帶隊協助。最近的「百人踩」和「籌款」大家亦不辭勞苦的提供協助。或許就是這班原本萍水相逢、素未謀面的人的支持,慢慢無形中變成「戰友」,令我們覺得所走的方向是對的。
We have been Tin Kwong Ride-ing for 18 weeks. We have, however, yet been able to share our feelings and reflections. (Remarks: Tin Kwong Ride is a bicycle-commuter event co-organized by RideOut, Prof. Edward Yiu and Bike the Moment, based on Hong Kong Island.)
It remains crystal clear, when I make this idea public, in the Mid-Autumn Festival Bike Market, , their exciting face filled the hut on Oil Street. Shortly after we had got several test rides with RideOut, we set off on the journey. Frankly speaking, we never expected many people to turn up in these campaigns, nor it could succeed.
We began with an anxiety that we could not keep people coming back to ride with us. People are curious to new things and most willing to participate in the first ride. The difficulty is if we can keep the enthusiasm. However, as we ride on, we managed to recognise and call each other by name. We started to felt each other’s enthusiasm. Friends in the Eastbound route usually had breakfast together at the destination, providing useful opinions and volunteering to lead the team. Precious help was also received in Tin Kwong Ride One Hundred and fundraising. Because of these new acquaintances who kindly offered assistance, silently turned into comrades, we have confidence that this is the right track.
I 馬路上的到底有什麼危險?
最近在看一本關於城市設計的書 《Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design》,是由之前採訪我們的明報周刊的記者得知。台灣公共運輸政策學者邱秉瑜從書中總結出對「汽車文化」的看法,在這裡值得再次與大家 share:「幸福的定義或許因人而異,但可以確定的是汽車文化帶來了不幸福,也是一座城市之所以不快樂的原因。二十世紀都市的一大重要發展特色,是「以私家車為中心發展」,街道漸由兒時嬉戲之處、日常散步之所,變成了不安全的地方,而這不安全感,正是允許私家車高速行駛的汽車文化造就的。」
說到在馬路上的安全問題,「究竟你地點踩架?係咪好危險架?」相信是大家第一大疑問及最有興趣知道的事。首先必須講:我們是遵守交通規則的一群。情況許可的話會我們通常會讓其他速度較快的車先行。而可以非常坦白的說,我地亦當然絕對有遇過狼狽和危險的情況,否則今天我們亦不需要和大家爭取什麼。試過很多次,我們和司機都非常禮讓,一個手勢大家便心中有數。亦有試過很多次,我們被汽車在我們隊伍中強行穿入。又試過被巴士/私家車等非必要地和故意地挨近我們。明明旁邊有快線可行,但卻要行在我們後面,甚至以恐嚇性的 “砵” 聲嚇我們並在面前強行 cut 過(其實這些都已經是危險駕駛可以被捕)。
在此我想指出一個point,大家常常說:踩單車好危險架!但有沒有想過其實這句話的邏輯是否代表說駕駛的人其實駕得很危險?又或者道路的設計有問題?危險的根源在哪裡?或者說,為何一種合法而且是對社會更環保更健康的移動方式給人的印象會是危險?大家通常都會先入為主的覺得如果單車有事是咎由自取;而大家卻不會和駕駛者(一種相對殺傷力大,而且破壞環境的移動方式)講:你地渣車小心 d 呀。大家卻似乎忘記了一年有多少宗恐怖的交通意外都是由危險/疏忽駕駛而成。還是大家已經麻木地覺得:「汽車撞死人呢 是應該的,你抵死啦~」歸根究底,或者可能就像我們其中一位參加者說:「在籠裡出生的鳥認為飛翔是一種病。」
I What’s wrong with riding on the road?
Talking about road safety, ‘bike on the road? how can you? how dangerous!’ should come up in many people’s mind. First, let’s make it clear: We abide by the law. Under most circumstances, fast cars go first. Of course there were embarrassing and dangerous moments. That’s why we are here to advocate bicycle commutation. Commonly, driver and we are extremely courteous and cautious, reading others’ mind with the wave of an arm. At the same times there are cars forcing into our formation, bus or cars unnecessarily coming close to us. Some, instead of using the fast lane, deliberately stick behind us, with threatening horns and cutting into ours. These are however prosecutable offences under the Dangerous Driving Act.
We would like to point out, when people say, ‘bicycle is dangerous!’, do they really mean the drivers in the cars? Or that the roads are inherently flawed? Where is the problem? Or, changing the question, why would a lawful and environmentally friendly transport means would give an image of being dangerous? People tend to think, without plausible reason, if there is an accident, the cyclist is to blame, while people never told the drivers ‘be careful.’ The later is, however, a more lethal transport, both to citizens and to the nature. Let us not forget how many terrible road traffic accidents have been brought by dangerous driving and more are expected. Do people think ‘the cyclist just deserves the danger,’ or as one of our friends quoted, ‘birds born in a cage think flying is an illness.’
II 單車和汽車其實是同一陣線,共同爭取更安全的道路設計
不過經過這麼多星期的觀察,我們的結論是:單車和駕駛人士或其他道路使用者都不是敵對的。我們要搞清楚,這一切混亂和尷尬的場面其實都是源自於過時的城市規劃和有缺陷的道路設計,這一切最大的責任其實在於政府。因為城市規劃權在他們手,而政策和宣傳更加絕對可以有效影響所有駕駛者和道路使用者(包括單車者)的態度。
前天較早時有網友將我們「2.21 百人踩返工」的活動share 到一些汽車駕駛群組,引來一場罵戰和批評。當中有惡意中傷的也有好言相向的。但我們在裡面都發現了一個重點,就是其實無論大家說的如何面紅耳赤,如何對立也好,其實同樣都是關心一個問題:道理上的安全。其實大家的出發點亦是提到現在的道路設計其實並不足以為所有使用者提供足夠的安全。駕駛者同樣不希望發生任何意外,所以這其實是不是正好反映,我們其實都是站在同一陣線:「想香港的道路設計更先進更安全」?所以我們的「敵人」是否應該是「政府落後的視野」?
II Car and Bike, the same side, for a safer Ride
Still, after weeks of observation, we came to an conclusion that drivers, cyclist and any other road users are no enemies. All above awkward and chaotic situation has a source of old fashioned urban planning and road design, which are primarily work of the government. They hold the power of urban planning. More importantly, policy and public education can effectively change the mind of road user, including cyclists.
Recently, our activity post of 2.21 Ride to Work One Hundred was shared to some Facebook driver groups, triggering a series of fierce argument and criticism, both malignant and neutral. Both sides, however red necked in arguing, are seriously concerned about road safety. Both sides do not think current road design cannot provide enough confidence for all users. Drivers do not fancy accident either. It clearly reflects we are on the same side, asking for ‘better road design in Hong Kong’, which means the common enemies is ‘outdated concept’ of our government.
III Urban cyclist 是什麼? 請記住我們不是單車發燒友
最後我想說,我們並不是「單車發燒友」,亦不是那些在馬路上胡亂穿插的人衝紅燈的人。我們都只是簡簡單單的一個嘗試用帶車代步,試圖為未來追求更好生活環境和品質的人。如果你認為我們在馬路上用單車代步是「阻x住人揾食」,我想講我地其實都係同樣都係踩單車返工揾食。那麼所有停係街邊的「死車」同樣都「阻住我地揾食」,那我們是否應逐一上前問候?但我們不會這樣做。問題並不會這樣解決。
我們的願景是希望我們的城市可以慢慢改變。我們深信,任何一個試圖將單車從城市發展中摒棄的城市,最終都會被淘汰。這個由所有其他世界一線先進城市的發展趨勢已經足以證明。但可惜,我們的政府暫時卻缺乏這種視野。其實政府只要帶頭改善,基本上沒有事情是不可能的。世界上每個城市都面對自己獨有的問題,而且並不會比我們容易解決,例如南美洲哥倫比亞的首都波哥大(Bogotá) ,當地治安奇差,要推行踩單車的威脅絕對不會比我們少,他們面對的是隨時街頭掠劫和甚至槍殺,相比我城面對的困難要恐怖得多。但在人稱「快樂市長」的潘納羅薩帶領下,今天波哥大的城市單車發展甚至為超越歐美城市并為她們借鏡。大家後來回想都覺得是一個奇跡。
III Urban cyclist – We are not that into the sport
We are not that a into the sport of cycling. Neither do we rush when traffic light turns red. Bicycle to us is simply a means replacing cars, trying to forge a better future and quality of life. We are sometimes deemed moving roadblocks for commuters. The fact is, we are commuters on a bike. Those illegal parking on roadside are rather bulky blocks. Sounds good to condemn every one of them? We don’t, coz it doesn’t help.
We aim at changing the city gradually. Cities abandoning bikes will soon be abandoned, as evidenced by other evolving world class cities. Sadly, our government do not think so. But things will not work out without government taking the lead. Admittedly there are difficulties, just like any other cities. Bogotá, capital city of Columbia, is notorious for its lack of security, seriously threatening the use of bicycles. The may be robed, gunshot, more terrible than what we are facing. Still, the success of the Bike Path Network, during the rule of the Mayor Peñalosa, set a model for many Western country. It is no less than a miracle.
IV 我們的願景 – 單車從來不是終極的目標
單車對我們來說從來都不是終極目標。單車只是一個工具和方法,終點是令我們的城市變得更美好,我們的生活更快樂。今天我們提倡單車,搞這個活動,著眼的是試圖改變 10年、20年、甚至是50年後的改變。而我們腦海中的願景是一個大家都樂於在街上與你的家人朋友漫步享受,而不是覺得空氣污染,又或者塞車煩躁到你不願逗留的社區。我們在此呼籲所有希望我們的城市變得更美好,想大家的生活質素變得更高的朋友,不要等,請你一起來,我們的城市需要大家站出來一起去爭取。路途遙遠,但我們相信有天一定會達成。
IV Our Vision – Bicycle is never the end
To us, bike is not an end. It is a tool and a means, Our goal is to make the city prettier, lives enjoyable. Today when we campaign for bicycle commuting, we are aiming at changes that may be seen in 10 years, 20 years, even 50 years. Instead of polluted air and annoying traffic jams, we envisage streets you are willing to stroll, to promenade with family and friends. We call for friends who long for a more breathable and enjoyable city. We can lead a better life. Something has to be done and the city needs ordinary people like you and me to step forward. It will be a long journey. It will, however, come true.
P.S. 完成天光 Ride百人踩,我們將會暫時放下這個話題.之後我們會開始年初想成為雜誌的目標。我們已經急不及待開始撰寫第一篇專題文章。完成后第一時間和大家分享。
P.S. After finishing Tin Kwong Ride 100, this project will be temporarily suspended and our attention be changed to a magazine. Will let you know once we finished the first story, stay tuned.
1 comment
很棒的活動喔,台北這幾年因為公共腳踏車設置越來越普及,現在騎腳踏車通勤的人越來越多呢
目前最大的問題就是汽車對腳踏車騎士的禮讓度還是不夠,這需要時間改進