A study led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics, points out that urban transport governance should no longer be confined to fragmented and reactive management practices. Instead, it should adopt a more systematic and targeted, tiered policy approach to address transport issues at different levels.
The study notes that, in the face of increasingly severe road congestion, road expansion and widening alone cannot fundamentally relieve transport pressure. If there is insufficient integration among different modes of transport, including buses, the MTR, cycling, walking and shared mobility, increasing road capacity alone is unlikely to bring meaningful improvements to the overall travel convenience for the public.
The research further argues that promoting the development of a “circular city” requires going beyond a narrow focus on road congestion when addressing transport issues. It requires a comprehensive response to six major challenges: traffic congestion, air pollution, inadequate public transport efficiency, poor connectivity between transport links, ageing infrastructure and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Prof. Lai believes that urban transport governance should move away from a fragmented response model towards a tiered strategy based on the nature of different problems, supported by appropriate technological tools to enhance overall governance effectiveness.
Prof. Lai added that, compared with tackling congestion in isolation, issues such as air pollution and transport mode integration should be treated as more pressing priorities, as they directly affect the public’s daily travel experience, public health and quality of life. The study suggests that artificial intelligence can be applied to traffic flow forecasting, real-time monitoring, demand analysis and multimodal connection optimisation. Blockchain technology, meanwhile, can help facilitate transparent data sharing, emissions tracking, smart contract execution, and the establishment and development of carbon credit mechanisms.
At the policy level, the study proposes three recommendations. First, policymaking should be guided by a problem-oriented approach, with appropriate matching of technologies to identified issues. Second, a unified data platform should be established to strengthen collaboration across government departments and transport operators. Third, procurement and performance evaluation mechanisms should be reformed, shifting away from a system that prioritises equipment acquisition to one based on outcomes.
Prof. Lai emphasised that cities seeking to advance smart mobility should adopt a pilot-first and progressive implementation strategy. By integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, transport governance can evolve from a short-term, emergency-response model into a long-term, low-carbon and resilient circular city governance system.
Online coverage:
Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Q9gg4u
| Research Units | Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement |
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