皇后大道中行人專用區的提議進入了新階段，隨着推動者星期四走上街頭，向沿街的行人和企業介紹這一想法。
一年前提交給運輸署的提案涉及關閉從戲院里到域多利皇后街的馬路；並創建綠色裝卸區，以鼓勵非機動車輛，如貨運單車和手推車，取代貨車和小型貨車。
運輸署現已將這個想法轉交給民政事務部，並表示這個想法需要當地企業的支持才能繼續進行。
推動小組到訪戲院里，分享想法、爭取支持和了解持份者的意見。該小組包括：James Ockenden，Transit Jam 的編輯和 Wham Bam Tram 的製作人； Paul Zimmerman，區議員、南區區議會副主席和長期的步行活動倡導者；香港單車聯盟主席Martin Turner；和黃浩輝，一位帶着嬰兒車在日本跑了 3,250 多公里的運動家。
黃浩輝帶領行人進行趣味「紅燈瑜伽」，推動小組則為郵寄名單收集簽名，以建立對該想法的支持。
「世界上許多城市正在用貨運單車取代小型貨車和貨車，如果香港想要實現林鄭月娥雄心勃勃的減碳排放目標，我們也必須這樣做。綠色裝卸載區將為行人和單車提供更多空間，同時保持皇后大道中的生命線流動，這對人、企業和環境來說都是雙贏的」Ockenden指出。
「皇后大道中這馬路是失敗的。警方偶爾進行執法活動，但與空轉的車輛和非法停泊的豪車相比，設計更改可以提供更好、更健康的空間使用。」
許多歐洲城市已經開始轉向貨運單車而不是貨車。在倫敦，貨車流量在 20 年間增長了 71%，一個擁有 400 名成員的「商務單車」組織旨在以貨運單車取代 15% 的柴油貨車。
A proposal to pedestrianise Queen’s Road Central moved into a new gear as campaigners took to the streets on Thursday to introduce the idea to pedestrians and businesses along the street.
The proposal, taken to Transport Department a year ago, involves closing the road to motor vehicles from Theatre Lane to Queen Victoria Street; and creating Green Loading Zones to encourage non-motorised vehicles, such as cargo bikes and trolleys, to replace vans and small trucks.
Transport Department has now passed the idea to Home Affairs Department, and says the idea needs buy-in from local businesses to proceed.
The campaign group visited Theatre Lane to share the idea, build support and learn stakeholders’ views. The group includes: James Ockenden, editor of Transit Jam and producer of Wham Bam Tram; Paul Zimmerman, district councillor, vice-chair of the Southern District Council and long-time walkability campaigner; Martin Turner, chairman of the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance; and Wong Ho Fai, an adventurer who ran over 3,250km across Japan with a stroller.
Wong Ho Fai led pedestrians in a fun “Red Light Yoga”, while campaigners collected signatures for a mailing list to build support for the idea.
“Many cities around the world are replacing smaller vans and trucks with cargo bikes, and if Hong Kong wants to achieve Carrie Lam’s ambitious carbon targets we will need to do the same. Green Loading Zones would enable more space for pedestrians and bikes while keeping the Queen’s Road Central lifeblood flowing, it’s a win win win for people, business and the environment,” said Ockenden.
“Queen’s Road Central is a failed street. Police run sporadic enforcement campaigns but a design change could deliver a much better, healthier use of space than idling Alphards and illegally parked luxury cars.”
Many European cities have begun a switch to cargo bikes instead of vans. In London, van traffic has risen 71% over 20 years, and a “Bikes for Business” group, with 400 members, aim to replace 15% of deliveries from diesel to cargo bike.
