🚋 Editor's opening remarks: Dingding trams VS cars, why are they competing for roads?

The trams (commonly known as "ding ding trolleys") on Hong Kong Island began operating in 1904, becoming Hong Kong's first modern form of public transportation. At a time when cars were still relatively uncommon, trams were practically the primary form of ground transportation in the city.
But starting in the 1920s and 1930s, the number of cars, buses, and trucks increased dramatically, and a typical problem arose: fixed-track trams met flexible cars, and the two competed for limited road space .

1️⃣ Background: Road conditions at the time

• Narrow roads : In the early days, the main roads of Hong Kong Island (such as Queen's Road Central, Des Voeux Road Central, Johnston Road, etc.) were only two to three lanes wide.
• Tram tracks occupy the middle : Most of the tracks are laid in the middle of the road, with two tracks running back and forth, leaving the remaining space on both sides for other vehicles.
• Traffic planning is not divided : there is no concept of "dedicated lines". Cars can drive directly onto tram tracks, but they must avoid moving trams.

📜Fun fact from the editor : In the 1920s, Hong Kong's roads were actually paved with horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws, making transportation quite diverse.

2️⃣ Peak of the road race (1920s - 1960s)

1920s-1930s: Rapid growth in the number of cars

• Rich businessmen and foreigners began to own private cars
• Bus companies (such as China Motor Bus and Hong Kong Motor Bus) began operating, running alongside trams.
• Trams are slow (average 10-15 km/h), and car drivers are often forced to follow them.

Road dispute scene

• When car drivers see a tram in front of them, they will cut into the opposite lane to overtake, but they are likely to encounter oncoming cars, forcing the tram to slow down or even stop.
• During rush hour, several trams are lined up in a row, with the traffic behind them extending to the corner of the street.

1940s-50s: Post-war transport reconstruction

• Postwar car imports surged, leading to frequent bus services
• Tram tracks are fixed in position, becoming a traffic bottleneck
• The government considered removing the trams and replacing them with bus routes, but abandoned the plan due to cost and public opposition.

📌Editor ’s comment : The “road competition” in this era is not only an issue of speed, but also a dispute over the allocation of road resources.

1960s: First large-scale road improvements

• Major tram routes such as Des Voeux Road Central and Johnston Road have begun to be widened
• The government introduced a traffic light system to try to separate trams and cars
• There are still a lot of cars running directly on the tram tracks, so you have to wait slowly when you encounter a tram stop.

3️⃣ Typical locations for road disputes

1. Central to Sheung Wan (Des Voeux Road Central)

   • In the commercial core, buses, trucks, and trams mix together, and the traffic density is extremely high.
   • There are many tram stops, and buses often have to wait for passengers to get on and off.

2. Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay

   • Shopping malls and hotels are concentrated, and pedestrians are frequent, so trams and cars have to stop frequently.
   • Traffic jams are severe during the holiday season, and drivers are particularly resentful of the trams.

3. King's Road, North Point

   • The tram tracks occupy the middle, and the roads on both sides are narrow
   • Frequent entry and exit of industrial trucks exacerbates congestion

4️⃣ Changes in attitudes of the government and citizens

Early attitudes

• Car drivers generally believe that trams hinder traffic
• Some businesses support replacing the tram system with buses

Late Consensus (1970s onwards)

• As a low-cost, environmentally friendly means of public transportation, trams are gradually gaining recognition.
• The government has begun to set up dedicated tram lines on major tram routes to reduce competition with cars.
• Most drivers have gradually adapted to "coexisting with Ding Ding", but they still feel inconvenience during peak hours.

5️⃣ The relationship between modern trams and cars (2000s - present)

• Dedicated tracks : For example, on the section between Central and Causeway Bay, trams have their own dedicated middle channel, and cars cannot drive for long periods of time.
• Traffic light coordination : The signal light system will give priority to trams to reduce stops
• Image reversal : Ding Ding trams have gone from being a road block to a tourist attraction and even a filming location.

📌The editor sighed : In the past, drivers would frown when they saw Ding Ding, but now many passengers will raise their phones to take photos when they see Ding Ding. Times have really changed.

6️⃣ Editor’s Summary

• Then : Trams competed with cars for space due to narrow roads, poor planning, and rapidly increasing traffic demand.
• Today : Conflicts are greatly reduced through dedicated tracks and optimized traffic lights.
• Significance : This history reminds us that transportation planning must anticipate future needs; otherwise, any mode of transportation could become a roadblock.

💡Editor ’s Tip :
If you're a driver and encounter a slow-moving tram, it's not necessarily because it's holding you back; it could be due to traffic lights or pedestrians crossing the road. Stay patient and appreciate the scenery along the way. You'll feel much better.

A timeline of the history of Hong Kong trams competing with cars for road space