Embracing cycling as a means of transport would not just improve Hongkongers’ health but also reduce road congestion and contribute to sustainability goals
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenDennis LeeDennis Lee is a Hong Kong-born, America-licensed architect with years of design experience in the US and China. Published: 9:30am, 29 Jul 2026During the opening ceremony of Ride to Shine Hong Kong this month, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui challenged Hongkongers to cycle more than 1.2 million km – a distance equivalent to circling the Earth 30 times – to commemorate Hong Kong’s 30th anniversary of returning to China next year.Cycling is more than a trend and worth developing. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has been the most energy-efficient form of human-powered transport – including running or walking. Research suggests it takes less energy to cycle than to walk the same distance.
Unfortunately, we are not quite a cycle-friendly city yet. There are some districts with more integrated cycling lanes and networks, including Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tuen Mun and the developing Kai Tak GreenWay. However, cross-district commuting over longer distances is the key. For crosstown travel, cycling would truly be of benefit when one needs to reach a destination to which it is too far to walk.
