The government will upgrade Lion Rock Tunnel and is pushing through vehicle-led proposals under the guise of a "public consultation".

This is a ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY to bring cycling and walking to a major Hong Kong infrastructure project.

The tunnel upgrades will give a "backup" tunnel under Lion Rock which could be engineered into a fabulous cycling and walking tunnel, connecting Kowloon and New Territories with a green mobility corridor.

The idea comes from Kowloon Greenway's Benny Yip, (via, he says, some HKiTalk forum chat). In a letter to government promoting the plan, Benny compares the prospect to Banzhangshan Tunnel in Zhuhai.

The "public consultation" consists of running the plans through three District Council Traffic and Transport Committee meetings (as item #28 or #29 on a hot Friday afternoon). 

As such, innovation and imagination could be lost and the upgrade could end up as simply more lanes of motor vehicles.

Let's make sure the idea doesn't get ignored or buried!

This petition is for the Director of Highways Jimmy Chan to take on board the idea and help plan a cycling/walking tunnel concept for the Lion Rock Tunnel Upgrade.

Being able to cycle from Kowloon to Sha Tin would be a game changer for commuting, for sport, for leisure.

There's public health benefits (activity = lower disease); reduced congestion and pollution; encouraging tourism; and expanding the New Territories bike network to a whole new world (Kowloon).

The project will also be an innovation and technology showcase connecting the Northern Metropolis to Hong Kong through green mobility.

We also call on the authorities to ensure public transport and buses get a good deal in the new tunnel arrangement, with special lanes for buses - if there's three lanes of motor vehicles, the bus (carrying 90% of the tunnel's passengers) should be offered a speedy route through!

Please back this project and let's get a "people's passage" through Lion Rock Tunnel!