Residents associations and an associated district councillor have tried, in vain, to have cycling banned on O King Road

An e-bike rider passed out and died while riding up O King Road near the Kwong Tin estate last night.

Mr Siu, 59, was riding the bicycle uphill on the quasi-private road at 9.45pm when, according to police, he suddenly collapsed on the ground. An ambulance crew rushed him to United Christian Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

A police source says Siu had a long illness record. “The cause of death was likely a physical disease, not a vehicle crash,” said the source, noting that Siu had no obvious injuries.

O King Road has seen many bike crashes over the years – in 2016, the quiet winding road saw the death of an 80-year-old man. In that case, according to Apple Daily, the victim, Mr Ho, was suspected to have lost control of his bicycle on the steep 10% gradient coming down the hill.

At the time, then-District Councillor and chairman of Ocean Shores Owners’ Committee Chan Kai-wai proposed banning cycling on the road, claiming it was authorised for Ocean Shores residents only, and dangerous for cyclists.

But cycle lobby groups disputed that claim and identified the route as the only practical cyclable route between Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O. Transport Department upheld the cycling community’s concerns.

The route is also popular amongst cycle athletes, with over 2,000 bicycle riders logging O King Road segment ascents on Strava, as well as a key access point for hikers using the Wilson Trail.

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