Join us in holding a Public Transport Day!

Environmental Petition

Join us in holding a Public Transport Day!

41 Signatures Obtained, This Campaign Ended on December 31, 2014

Signatures
obtained

9959

Target: 10000

Description

The Hedley Environmental Index estimates that, from January to June 2013, air pollution led to 1,606 premature deaths, 18,683 million in dollars lost, 76,361 hospitalizations, and 3.61 million doctor visits. The death toll due to air pollution for the first six months in 2013 is four times higher than the total number of deaths caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong in 2003.

Due to its high concentration in close proximity to us, roadside pollution poses the biggest threat to public health. Roadside pollution in Hong Kong comes mainly from diesel commercial vehicles, franchised buses, taxis and minibuses. It consists of pollutants such as respirable suspended particulates (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and exposure to these pollutants can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, or even cause lung cancer.

To compound the roadside pollution problem, the growth of private cars has worsened Hong Kong’s congestion.

Private cars make up 90% of the total number of newly registered vehicles in Hong Kong between 2008 and 2012. Statistics from the Transport Department showed that the number of registered private cars rose from 421,062 in 2008 to 494,646 in 2012.
Due to this increase in vehicles, many of the main roads in urban areas saw a decline in vehicle speed, for example, the average speed in Lung Cheung Road, Kowloon dropped from 49.3 km in 2005 to 29.7 km in 2010, a decrease of up to forty percent.
To reduce roadside emissions, a multi-pronged approach must be taken so that Hong Kong can make a transition to a low car use, or even a car-free community. This petition seeks to urge the public to play their part and make a pledge to not drive private cars for a day.

If 100,000 people participate in the pledge, we will submit the collected signatures to public transport companies and set up a “Public Transport Day”, requesting companies to organise free rides, in order to encourage usage of public transport and improve the quality of life for all Hong Kong citizens.

Watch Video

Petition Letter

To Citybus Limited, Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, Long Win Bus Company Limited, MTR Corporation Limited, New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited, New World First Bus Services Limited and The Star Ferry Company Limited,

I pledge to:

take part in the Public Transport Day and will not drive a private car;
request bus companies to adopt more environmentally friendly vehicles;
request that ferries companies adopt the use of cleaner fuels;
request that the MTR corporation establish more cycling-friendly facilities.

Petition Creator

This petition was started by 健康空氣行動 Clean Air Network (CAN) on October 4, 2013, with an end date of December 31, 2014.

健康空氣行動(CAN) 是本港最關注空氣污染的非牟利團體，目標是為香港爭取健康的空氣，透過教育公眾及提倡不同的解決方案，藉以推動政策，達致目標。目前我們將關注重點放在路邊空氣污染，同時我們亦會密切留意及監察來自船舶、周邊地區及來自發電廠的污染。

Clean Air Network is an independent NGO that encourages the public to speak out about the health impacts of air pollution. Our vision is to build a Hong Kong with clean air. To achieve this vision, CAN dedicated to drive policy change by building knowledge, collaborating strategically and advocating solutions in a collaborative approach. Without losing sight on the pollution from regional activities, marine vessels and power plants, our current primary focus is on roadside pollution.