Wham Bam Tram! was an RTHK radio show produced by James Ockenden and airing over two seasons in 2021. It was unexpectedly cancelled by RTHK and all archives removed from the RTHK website.
Here you can find all 26 episodes from the two seasons. We also ran a “summer podcast” of four episodes found through all podcast platforms our podcast partner Captivate. For copyright reasons, we are not permitted to run the original RTHK episodes through podcasting platforms and so we have archived them all below. Please enjoy!
Season 1 (April – July 2021)
Episode 1: Kai Tak, Sea Planes and the Harbour
Season opener with Jeff Bent, head of Kai Tak cruise terminal; Stephen Cheung, founder of SeaPlane Hong Kong; and vice-chair, Southern District Council, Paul Zimmerman.
In the news: the rise of cargo bikes
Episode 2: Regina Ip
Perhaps better known for Article 23 than the 23 bus, political heavyweight and senior government advisor Regina Ip talks walking, biking and Lantau Tomorrow.
In the news: FEHD camera network has caught… nobody!
Episode 3: Walkability
Walkability guru Waltraut Ritter on the issues around making Hong Kong better for pedestrians and the many benefits of walking
In the news: one US state decriminalises jaywalking
Episode 4: Shared public space
Carine Lai of Civic Exchange talks about the opportunities and failure in Hong Kong’s shared public space, including results of a survey into busking and outdoor entertainment.
In the news: drivers of more expensive cars are less considerate.
EPISODE 5: Uber
Ride sharing with Uber’s Head of Regulatory Affairs Richard Wilder.
In the news: the rise of Bike-to-Vehicle technology
Episode 6: 3D mapping and pedestrianisation
Two specialists in public space and walking: Alain Chiaradia of HKU and architect Oren Tatcher of OTC Planning & Design discuss how mapping and wayfinding can make or break a walking scheme
In the news: academics propose new financially sustainable models for Hong Kong ferries
Episode 7: GOGO X founder Reeve Kwan
Hong Kong’s first Unicorn, Gogo Van, had humble beginnings: its founder Reeve Kwan tells all and discusses the space for delivery, the gig economy and shared mobility
In the news: “Crash not accident” and how should we report road crashes
Episode 8: Clean air with Patrick Fung
The CEO of the Clean Air Network gives frank views on the government’s clean transport plans.
In the news: Norway’s splendid electric ferries
Episode 9: Parking BnB
Parking BnB founder Vitaly Pentegov says Hong Kong’s parking resources are woefully managed
In the news: misuse of government cars
Episode 10: Food delivery with Food Panda
How can food delivery companies better treat their riders and offer sustainable delivery solutions, Wood Chan, head of sustainability for Food Panda, puts forward a few ideas.
In the news: Pete Buttigieg’s low low saddle
Episode 11: The Miracle Pill
London activist Peter Walker discusses his excellent book, The Miracle Pill, which looks at the magical health powers of basic human activity. Walker says we need to build more activity into daily lives.
In the news: police plunder the Ride of Silence
Episode 12: Innovation and tech in transport
Visionary Alex Katsanos talks autonomous vehicles, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and blockchain contracts
In the news: cargo bike firm’s oversubscribed investment round
Episode 13: Island life
We’re off to Mui Wo to meet Kathryn Davies, a long-time environmental campaigner who’s fed up with government inaction on illegal cars and plans to concrete the pierside.
IN the news: global projects to give people more space under the pandemic
Season 2 (October 2021 – January 2022)
Episode 1: Decarbonising transport
We chat with Evan Auyang, representing Civic Exchange, on Hong Kong’s efforts to decarbonise transport
In the news: emissions from tyre wear is 1000x worse than exhaust emissions
Letter from the Islands: the Pak Kok Kai To/ferry services
Episode 2: The city as a playground
Denise Philipse brought The Gay Games to Hong Kong – we talk about using the city as a sports venue
In the news: slowing speed limits
Youth talk: 16-year-old Zoe talks clean air and climate
Episode 3: Taxis and Uber
Beyond Ventures investor Lap Man recently sold the HKTaxi app to Uber – how will ride hailing develop in the city?
Police Beat: failed parking enforcement in Chai Wan
Episode 4: DAB’s Horace Cheung
Lawmaker Horace Cheung talks about transport policy and clean transport
News: Cheung Chau crackdown on e-bikes
Episode 5: Walking with Wheels
A new art exhibit highlights the plight of people “walking with wheels”, from “cardboard grannies” to delivery folk. Co-creators Paul Zimmerman and Alain Chiaradia discuss the exhibit and its impact in the community
Letter from the Islands: Lantau and sectional fares
Episode 6: Walkability in mainland China
We meet the author of Walkable Cities in High Density China, Caterina Villani, and discuss what lessons could be brought to Hong Kong
Youth Talk: we meet the young founder of popular YouTube channel Hidden Hong Kong
Episode 7: Living Islands
After decades in Hong Kong, Dr Merrin Pearse is headed back to his home in New Zealand: we talk about the impact of his many campaigns and projects
In the news: Government excuses for no cycling areas, such as “cyclists may fall into the sea”
Episode 8: Environmental Protection Department’s Head of Air Policy Kenneth Leung PART I
A first for Wham Bam Tram! as we have a senior government official on the show. Kenneth Leung talks clean transport and air quality measurement in this first part.
Youth Talk: Meeting Kelvin, a young urban planner
Episode 9: Environmental Protection Department’s Head of Air Policy Kenneth Leung PART II
Our conversation moves to electric ferries, government siloes and carbon neutrality
Police Beat: Illegal racing in Clearwater Bay
Episode 10: Decarbonising transport
We chat with Evan Auyang, representing Civic Exchange, on Hong Kong’s efforts to decarbonise transport
In the news: emissions from tyre wear is 1000x worse than exhaust emissions
Letter from the Islands: the Pak Kok Kai To/ferry services
Episode 11: The e-buses of Shenzhen
The deputy head of Shenzhen Bus, Joe Ma, talks about the challenges of replacing an entire bus fleet with electric buses
In the news: EU vehicles to be fitted with speed limiters
Letter from the Islands: why are tricycles only allowed to carry one person?
Episode 12: Christmas special
The studio is packed with a visit from Queen Elizabeth II as well as Xin Zhang, the HKUST scientist behind our Olympic cyclists’ aerodynamic body suits and developer Ivan Ko on Henderson Land’s $51 billion bid for Central’s iconic Site 3.
Episode 13: Transport resilience
HKU researcher Sylvia He discusses how to make our transport system more resilient to the unexpected and how urban design plays a part in healthy streets.
In the news: more crackdowns on e-bikes