Hong Kong cyclists stuck at government red light

HONG KONG (AFP) - On Hong Kong's traffic-heavy streets, horns blare as speeding red taxis, double-decker buses and public minivans shuttle people to-and-from work. But there is one thing missing - bicycles.

Cities around the world have seized on cycling as a cheap, healthy and environmentally friendly way of getting around, with New York the latest major hub to announce a bike-share scheme.

But not Hong Kong. Its government designates cycling as a leisure activity - not a mode of transport - and refuses to encourage commuting by bike in busier urban areas because of the risk of accidents.

Mr Martin Turner, the chairman of the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance, believes it is about time the city got in gear.