What do people need when it comes to transport? To get from Point A to Point B. It’s as simple as that.
Hong Kong has consistently been at or near the top of global transport rankings. We have an extensive railway network that continues to expand. Our transport options include buses, minibuses and the city’s iconic trams and cross-harbour ferries. That’s something we can be very proud of.
Look at the recent global survey by Time Out which put Hong Kong at the top of a ranking of the best public transport systems in the world. Time Out surveyed more than 18,500 locals in over 50 countries, and 98 per cent of Hongkongers said they were happy with the city’s public transport.
The city government should take this as positive feedback. After all, it was the people it serves who decided whether the service they receive is any good. We should take pride in a public transport system – one which has been planned and built across decades – that conveniently and efficiently takes commuters from Point A to Point B.
So far, so good. However, the re-emergence of familiar transport hiccups during the Hong Kong Sevens shows that the government cannot rest on its laurels. Long queues for taxis, complaints over the lack of enough signage in English directing crowds, and ride-hailing drivers being unable to find their way to the Kai Tak Sports Park pick-up area show there is much room for improvement.
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Where do drivers stand in Hong Kong’s Uber vs taxi battle?
Where do drivers stand in Hong Kong’s Uber vs taxi battle?
The concerns go beyond one large event. What about the soft launch of Hong Kong’s premium taxi fleets which turned into a fiasco unbecoming of a city with such a highly regarded transport network? The new premium Joie service ended up cancelling orders left and right on its first day despite users submitting requests more than an hour in advance and paying by credit card. They were offered a refund “in around seven working days”. Its taxis never made it to Point A, let alone taking people to Point B.
