This report from the China Daily hypes a new bike promotion campaign that authorities are hoping will reinforce its status as the bicycle kingdom. From the press report:
“Under the scheme, 50,000 bikes will be available for rent soon throughout the city. They will cost 100 yuan ($13) for a one-year contract or 20 yuan per day. . . It is estimated the rental network will cover some 200 locations by the time of next year’s Olympics in a bid to ease traffic congestion. . . At the end of 2003, Beijing had more than 10 million registered bicycles.”
I’ve been following the bike situation in China for some time (see below). The decline of bicycle use and the dramatically increased hazards of riding in the city are very real. This campaign may be more for domestic use than for foreigners except in very controlled and defined areas of the city. But I congratulate the officials for giving it a whirl.
Previous posts:
October 19, 2007 at 11:47 am
[...] my past posts on cycing in China. Posted in China, Cycling. Tags: bike, bike theft, China, [...]
December 27, 2007 at 8:19 pm
[...] streets every day to 1500, believe me, it is getting worse by the week.” He also noticed his first loaner bike out on the roads and observes that this may be a scheme worth considering given the problem of [...]