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March 24th, 2008:

Island Eastern Corridor Boardwalk Idea

Mar 24th, 2008
by AdminCTA.
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What do you think of the Island Eastern Corridor boardwalk idea?

Updated on Mar 24, 2008 – SCMP

The proposal by Eastern District Council to the Planning Department for a boardwalk under the Island Eastern Corridor is welcome (“Promenade plan to open eastern harbourfront”, March 20).

However, more comprehensive access to our harbour is needed.

Forward-thinking cities such as Sydney enable public access to almost all of their waterfront, whereas in Hong Kong prime sites next to the harbour (such as in North Point or Sheung Wan) are now lying empty or are used for storage or occasional truck maintenance.

We support an exciting proposal to create a cycle path along the whole of the Hong Kong Island waterfront, linking Kennedy Town to Central with existing partial access around the Wan Chai-Causeway Bay area, through below the Island Eastern Corridor, to Quarry Bay Park promenade and on to Shau Kei Wan.

Such a route would serve leisure riders, commuters and tourists.

As well as revealing our hidden jewel, the harbour, it would allow easy and pleasant access to many locations and boost business activity with harbourfront kiosks and bicycle rental.

Also, of course, more cyclists mean lower emissions, less congestion, less noise pollution and improved health.

In support of this proposed path, a mass bike ride will take place on Sunday April 6, starting at Cadogan Street Temporary Garden, Kennedy Town, at 10am. Following the ride, a letter detailing the benefits of the proposal will be delivered to the Planning Department in North Point. Further details from hkcyclingalliance@yahoo.com or Facebook “2nd Waterfront Bike Ride”.

On the first ride in November, more than 100 riders showed their support for a harbourfront cycle path. Organisers are hoping for even more this time.

Martin Turner, Hong Kong Cycling Alliance

Smart Air Conditioning Sensors Make KMB Buses Go Green

Mar 24th, 2008
by AdminCTA.
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Scarlett Chiang
Updated on Mar 24, 2008 – SCMP

Kowloon Motor Bus is determined to keep its cool when it comes to the environment.
All of its 3,600 air-conditioned buses now have sensors that fine-tune the inside temperature in response to the atmosphere outside.

The sensors save fuel as air conditioning is used only when it is needed.

Principal engineer Shum Yuet-hung said the cabin temperature was affected by the number of passengers, the air flow at bus stops and the temperature difference between inside and outside.

“The ambient sensor fine-tunes the temperature in the bus automatically to suit different cooling requirements based on the temperature difference,” he said. “It enables the air-conditioning system to adjust its cooling according to actual needs and this helps save energy.”

Mr Shum said fuel consumption increased 1 per cent when the outside temperature increased by one degree Celsius.

“If the air conditioning is set at a certain degree and does not change, energy will be wasted in cool weather.”

KMB sets its air conditioning at 23 degrees and the humidity level at 40 per cent to 70 per cent.

The bus company said the device came into its own in spring, autumn and on rainy days, when there were big temperature differences between day and night.

The sensor aims to keep the temperature inside the bus at between 22.5 degrees and 25.5 degrees, depending on the temperature outside.

KMB introduced an enhanced air-conditioning system in 2005, which includes the ambient sensors.

The system’s “intelligent” temperature control makes adjustments every four seconds.