Man dead, woman hurt in cycling crashes

Two separate cycling accidents that left a man dead and a woman in hospital have prompted calls for riders to slow down or dismount when travelling downhill.

Police are investigating a fatal accident in Pat Heung in which a 27-year-old man died after cycling downhill along Lam Kam Road towards Yuen Long at 12.48pm on Friday and reportedly losing control. He fell to the ground and sustained head injuries. The man was taken to hospital unconscious and certified dead later.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the accident to contact them on 3661 3800.

In another accident at 11am yesterday, a woman cyclist, 55, lost control and fell after riding downhill near a reservoir at Mui Tsz Lam in Ma On Shan. She sustained injuries to her forehead and legs and was later admitted to hospital.

Lobo Louie Hung-tak, associate head of the Education University of Hong Kong’s department of health and physical education, said riding a bike downhill could be very risky with amateurs prone to accidents.

“It is not uncommon for amateur cyclists to have a bike crash when going downhill,” he said.

“When going downhill, bicycle riders must have the skill to control the bike and slow down, otherwise it is easy to crash.

“If necessary, riders should dismount their bike and walk instead to minimise the risk.”

Louie also advised cyclists to receive proper training before taking to the road, and especially to learn about making turns, going downhill and riding in dangerous spots. “A lot of cyclists ignore the importance of learning the right skill and right attitude for riding a bicycle,” he said.