Lamma residents have been asking for better bike parking facilities on Lamma for many years to ease congestion and make the ferry pier area – the gateway to Lamma – more attractive.

It has taken District Office almost 10 years to present their plans for a Cycle Parking Area (CPA) to the community. These have now been “gazetted”, which means that the public has the opportunity to comment. Their plan does not follow any principles of good design but is simply a concrete reclamation between the ferry pier and the library. 

The government’s proposed CPA will:

• Cause more congestion as all bicycles will come out into the narrowest part of the path 
• Be difficult for cyclists to use – bikes will naturally be parked near the catwalk creating difficulties for those trying to access the area towards the library
• Create an eyesore for people coming off the ferry 
• Cover over the last bit of natural shoreline in the harbour
• Cause obstruction to people going to the library, the fisherman’s village and the pagoda Cause a rubbish trap underneath the platform
• Cost an estimated HK$50,000 per bike to implement 

Ignores the derelict shoreline and platform on the opposite side of the pier, which could be redesigned to accommodate a wider path, a bike park and fisherman’s wharf allowing proper access to the water.

Until 18 months ago, District Office told residents that the plans were “preliminary”, yet they were part of the Phase I reclamation. Though alternatives have been presented that will provide workable bike parking and make Lamma’s gateway more beautiful, these ideas have been ignored. 

You can read some letters of objection to the CPA for more reasons to oppose this project.

DEADLINE FOR OBJECTIONS: 6TH MARCH 2012 
Ms. Maisie Cheng, JP, Acting Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing 
Email : ds1@thb.gov.hk, sthoffice@thb.gov.hk
Address : 22ND Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong

SAMPLE LETTER