BEIJING, April 10 -- China was once called "the kingdom of bicycles", and
Beijing was known as "the paradise of bicycles". However, today's Beijingers
find that there are not enough cycling lanes for them.
Statistics show that there are more than 10 million bicycles in Beijing,
ranking it the top in all the metropolises in the world. It is estimated that
38% of Beijingers travel by bicycles everyday. That is to say, there are some
2.4 million bicycles on the roads and streets in Beijing.
"I cycle to and from work every day, but there are fewer and fewer cycling
lanes every year. I have to carry my bike up and down the street flyovers, and
quite often I have to avoid the jamming cars on those so-called
motorvehicle-free road," said Wang, an ordinary Beijinger.
"Every city with well developed transportations has enough bicycle lane,"
said Duan Liren, an expert on transportation, but bicycle lanes in Beijing are
usually occupied by motor vehicles. No wonder there are so many bicycle riders
complaining about becoming "vulnerable groups".
In the eyes of foreigners, bicycles have long since become a vital part of
Beijing's culture, even though cars are eroding the operational spaces of
bicycles and polluting the environment of Beijing on Monday.
(Source: Chinanews.cn)