...And More Wait!

While I take a positive decision about my weight, I really wish the Government in Hong Kong could do something positive about another type of wait!

Ever wondered why traffic in Central, particularly in the early evenings, is so diabolical? No, it's not the weight of rush hour traffic, although that clearly does not help. It is the inability of that traffic to move freely. And why is that?

I refer to the habit that some people have got into of being so lazy that they cannot suffer a little wait, or at least be considerate to other road users. They make their drivers park, sit, wait, double park - even triple park, for their convenience. If you are waiting for your car, which then arrives, you are often into the third lane of traffic to try and get in to it. It will only be a matter of time before someone gets hurt - physically.

It is selfish people who make their drivers come down town to pick them from areas such as the front of Princes Building , and then expect them to stay - preferably parked until they come out of the building. If they are delayed by 20 or 30 minutes, it doesn't seem to matter to them, and if they are with a friend they seem to enjoy the final discussion/chat just to indicate how important they think they are. Meanwhile cars are backing up round corners, and jammed on Chater Road because the traffic cannot get past the offending vehicles, slowing everything down. Cars with number plates like NP 36**; NZ 15**, CG *8, all of which have been recent culprits. (Okay, so I have partially protected them, but I have the photos - and I am sure they won't read this anyway, but steam released!)

Every so often the police come by, and then the drivers take off in a hurry, knowing that they should not be waiting so long, or be double parked, but the uniformed services undoubtedly have better things to do than act as traffic wardens and as soon as they leave the scene - back come the cars.

I feel sorry for the drivers actually. I am sure that if they are not there when the "boss" comes out of the building, expecting to step directly into his or her car, they will be told off.

Many other "world" cities seem to manage to cope with the problem through higher standards of driving discipline, ( I am sure someone will pick me up with a "world" city example that is worse - but I am talking about the city I live in), and through the employment of traffic wardens - and indeed, there seem to be some wardens in Hong Kong, occasionally, but never where they should be. Probably concerned about the stream of abuse they would suffer if they tried to book certain people. During the course of the day in Central, there are a number of favourite (but illegal) stopping places where drivers remain for as long as they dare until a policeman comes by and moves them on. Surely the amount of fines you could impose on illegal or disruptive parking would in most cases pay for the wardens, and would have the added benefit of making Hong Kong's roads a little easier to navigate.

I guess it is as much a plea for a little common courtesy to others. And yes, to whoever is thinking it, if I don't like it I can always go live elsewhere - but it's probably the pollution that will drive me to that decision before selfish individuals! I have enough friends who do behave decently to make that choice easier.

Comments

[Billy Ng]

Dear David,
This is Billy Ng from TVB News. We would like to have an interview with you on the Dubai issue. How can I contact you?

[hans olijve]

the question arises do you need a car anyway in Hong Kong..?

[Jeremy Williams]

Completely agree with your sentiments. Lower Ice House Street (in front of New Henry House) is perpetually reduced to one lane by the selfish practice of parking in the middle of the a traffic lane.