BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Xiaoming, 47, a
manager at an overseas-funded company, used to sit comfortably behind the wheel
of his car every day and drive to work in downtown Beijing.
But since July 20 when the Olympic host city of 3.29
million vehicles imposed car use controls, Zhao -- like hundreds of thousands of
other motorists -- has sat on his bike on alternate days.
Until Sept. 20, private cars are only allowed on the
roads when their license plates match the even or odd day of the month.
Zhao's car has an even-number plate, so on odd-number
days, he joins streams of cyclists, reviving the Beijing's former reputation as
the "bicycle kingdom".
That reputation faded with soaring car ownership in
China's second largest city, which has a population of more than 16 million.
"At the beginning, I wasn't used to going out without
my car, but my daughter encouraged me. Now I'm fine on the bike," says Zhao.
"Riding along Chang'an Avenue (the main east-west
route), there's a soft breeze. The street is so wide and I see so much more. I
enjoy it," says Zhao, who gave up riding a bicycle about six years ago.
The city authorities say the restrictions, along with
an earlier ban on vehicles that fail to meet emissions standards, would drive 2
million cars off the roads, easing traffic and improving air quality for the
Games.
In an open letter to residents, the city government
urged them to use public transport, cycle or simply walk.
A survey by the Beijing Social Facts and Public
Opinion Survey Center shows 24 percent of motorists have taken up cycling since
the restrictions came into force.
Another survey by the city transport authority showed
that 153 of the 743 polled -- almost 21 percent -- now pedaled to work.
HIRING A BIKE
Many of the former motorists have bought news bikes,
but many others hire one.
The low cost and convenience of bicycle rentals has
seen more than 10 hire companies spring up in the last three years, including
Bicycle Rental, Join-Bike Rental, Bikekingdom Rental, Bird of Freedom Bicycle
Rental and Fangzhou Bike Service.
The business has been boosted by a combination of
Beijing's commitment to a "green Olympics", rising public awareness of the
harmful health effects of an over-reliance on cars, and the vehicle
restrictions.
In August last year, the municipal government
initiated a campaign to promote more use of "public bicycles".
The Beijing Tourism Bureau has ordered star-rated
hotels to provide rental bikes for their guests during the Games.
Wang Yong, chairman of Bicycle Rental, one of the
city's first and largest rental firms set up in 2005, says the company's outlets
had jumped from 16 in early 2006 to 200.
About 50,000 bicycles are available at its outlets
across Beijing, Wang says. In the downtown area, Bicycle Rental has 76 outlets
with more than 7,000 bikes for hire.
"We have seen a notable increase in business thanks
to the Olymics and the car restrictions," Wang says. "We hope to provide more
services and that more people choose to cycle in order to save energy, cut
emissions and ease Beijing's traffic congestion."
The company's website shows bikes can be hired from
an hour to a year. One hour costs five yuan, four hours 10 yuan, and a day
20yuan. For a year, it costs 100 yuan. A 400-yuan deposit is required in each
case.
Wang says the city government needs to solve many
problems before many more people choose to ride a bike.
Beijing's roads have widened while cycle lanes have
become narrower, and many bike lanes have become side lanes for cars or bus
lanes, Wang says. Cyclists can also have trouble finding parking places.
The municipal authorities have made some progress in
solving the problems. Over the last three months, they have built more than
2,500 bicycle parking lots, with a total of 750,000 spaces. Most of the parking
areas are around Olympic venues and designated hotels for the Games.
The transport authority says residents and visitors
alike will find cycling a very convenient mode of transport during the Olympics.
