Chinese Rediscovering their bikes
Well, at least according to one guy in Hangzhou, and UPI:
In China, once called a “kingdom of bicycles,” cycling for fitness is making inroads after years of soaring car ownership, officials say.
Bicycling for transportation was a hallmark of Chinese culture until the creation of an urban white-collar class in the 1990s led many to purchase automobiles instead. But now those same urban professionals are buying trendy, upscale bikes to pursue their fitness goals, Xinhua, the state-run Chinese news agency, reported Saturday.
“Cycling is a remedy for obesity. Cycling invigorates and inspires me,” said Shen Kailun of Hangzhou, capital of eastern China’s Zhejiang province, who rode his bicycle up a hilltop in the city’s “First Ride in 2009.” “I’m now better off on my bike.”
Another participant, Xiao Jing, told Xinhua that recreational cycling is fashionably “green,” more so than fitness equipment. Xiao, the assistant editor of a local newspaper, says he joined a “night cycling” club three years ago.
“Almost each of the cyclists that I know can afford a car. However, in a world where people live to work, not work to live, cycling can add fizz to our lives,” he said.
China Car Times would cycle more, except driving is just more fun than getting honked at by crazy taxi drivers and bus drivers who pull out with no indication.
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How utterly ironic that in their quest for car ownership, coupled with their genetic disposition to be horrible, arrogant drivers, the Chinese city folk are more and more turning back to bikes as a reasonable mode of transportation to combat perpetually f**ked up roads.
I am seeing a surge of those little fold-away “Dahon” bikes on the roads and in bike shops everywhere. Cool stuff.
As someone who often cycles in Beijing in the spring and the summer, I have to agree with the writers sentiments. There appears to be very little respect for cyclists in China at the moment, its no wonder that many people have abandoned their bikes in favor of the motorcar.