China

Beijing Bicycle Commute

By Austin Ramzy | @austinramzy | May 22, 2009 | +

Last week I attempted to explain to a friend of a friend just what it’s like to ride a bike in Beijing. It’s better than riding in the U.S., because there are far more bike lanes. It’s worse because there’s far more traffic here. It’s better in Beijing, because Chinese drivers treat cyclists as legitimate road users. In the U.S. some drivers don’t even think bikes should be allowed on the streets. Of course, just because Chinese drivers recognize your right to the road doesn’t mean they’re going to give you any room. In other words, it’s not so easy to explain. Perhaps it’s just easier to check out this video my friend Sami shot during a recent bike commute in Beijing.

Related Topics: China

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  • oldtalesretold

    Biking in Beijing is definitely better.

  • 2morrow2

    Never biked in Beijing but last year during a short trip to Beijing I saw miles of supposedly dedicated bike lanes (the lane between the sidewalk and the green blvd between the bike lane and the vehicular lanes) had been converted to vehicular lanes.

    Even though the lanes are secured for their intented uses I probably won’t risk my life to bike on the streets of Beijing … You have to intake air to ride the bike, don’t you?

    The US, having been a nation on the wheels for generations, riding a bike for purposes other than recreation hasn’t yet been part of the general public mentality.

    Just as a side note, I am wondering where are those “professional” China-bashing people?

    As soon as Austin or his colleagues start to talk about things other than the obvious politics, these China-bashing people disappear.

    It looks as if these people have no life but politics.

  • sinibaldi1

    Summer resort.

    You live
    in the youth
    of a summer
    resort, your
    delicate voice
    appears in
    my mind like
    a winged creature,
    and even a
    pleasure describes
    in a moment
    a bright sensibility.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

  • johnsmith9876

    Extremely violent students killing soldiers in 1989:
    http://tinyurl.com/o935rx

  • johnsmith9876

    No China bashing here ? May be the only objectionable thing in China is politics ? Just may be …

  • johnsmith9876

    Actually, driving in China is better than in the US too. In China, you can drive anyway you like. Instead of being despised for driving against the rules as in the US, people admire you for having the courage, and money, to drive the way you do. You can drive at any speed, knocking anybody in China. As long as you have enough money, you will be all right. You actual driving speed will be lowered to an acceptable level.

    So is doing business. It is so much easier in China. In the US, your products face many tests, inspections, etc. If there is any violation, or if your factory is not clean enough for the products you put out, the factories are closed and condemned. What is worst in the US, the consumers can sue you for damages and the courts won’t protect you, no matter how rich and powerful you are. In China, all you need is powerful friends and family, and money, and you can be all right. Just don’t over do it to attract attention from Hu, and you can get away quickly if everything turns back.

  • johnsmith9876

    Chinese has found another cause of death: 死者是取车时兴奋过度死亡。 So, beware, don’t get too excited why you go get your car from the parking lot. This is particularly important when you pick up a new car from a car dealer.

  • conscienceinchina

    Oh!
    What a harmonized scene!
    What an affecting picture!
    The great people of the great country,
    bridling with their proud heads,
    swelling out their revolutionary chests,
    “Now，look:
    The arrogant American bandits
    Have to behave humble enough,
    Flattering us with such nauseating words,
    Because they need money,
    And we are the boss now,
    Ha-ha-ha-ha!!”

  • conscienceinchina

    《时代》周刊乱捧中国“伪人” (Time’s disgusting Puffery on China’s Autocrats)

    http://www.chinesepen.org/Article/sxsy/200905/Article_20090521144306.shtml

  • conscienceinchina

    I have to repeat it once again: Replacing concepts covertly (偷换概念) is really an inferior trick of the five-jiaos(wumaos). Bashing you ruffians and your master CCP = Bashing China?

  • 2morrow2

    Pathetic!

  • http://underthejacaranda.wordpress.com C.A. Yeung

    2morrow2,
    If you don’t mind me saying, you’re really asking for it.
    I agree with John Smith when he says “May be the only objectionable thing in China is politics.” So does it make me a China basher too? (And please, this is rhetorical question. So don’t bother to reply. Thanks.)

  • johnsmith9876

    China is a very safe place. These pictures show you how to achieve that.
    http://tinyurl.com/oe46rp

    When you are behind bars, no one can get to you.

  • johnsmith9876

    C.A. Yeung: May be 2morrow2 thinks there is something else objectionable in China ?

  • johnsmith9876

    http://tinyurl.com/rag8sb

    Evidence of Western infiltration and collusion in China. See all the evil westerners trying to infuriate the Chinese ?

  • johnsmith9876

    Chinese culture revealed:

    http://tinyurl.com/qll4ee

  • generaltso09

    Does johnsmith have a blog?

  • generaltso09

    Riding a bike in the United States is a joyous and happy experience provided by our wise and beneficent government. Cyclist enjoy harmonious and friendly relations with the SUV drivers, who only occasionally will run us over if we have over-stepped our place in society by biking while they are unhappy. All cyclist in the United States know that for the cause of a just and harmonious society we need to submit ourselves to the will of SUV owners who are true patriots and heroes because they purchase copious amounts of oil which fund harmonious relations with America’s oil-producing friends.

  • 2morrow2

    Well, Yeung!
    I have certainly no interest in answering your question of whatever nature.
    The point is, these China-bashing people do appear to have no life.
    I hope you are not one of them. But the choice is certainly yours.
    People who have no life at all are pathetic!
    Very!

  • http://bikeworm.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/some-foreign-biking-links/ some foreign biking links « bikeworm

    [...] some foreign biking links Jump to Comments See a Beijing bicycle commute. [...]

  • http://www.lucapascotto.it/archives/1497 Le 10 città più amiche della bicicletta – parte terza – Mobility For All

    [...] spesso resa disponibile una corsia protetta piuttosto ampia per le biciclette Stando ad alcune testimonianze “occidentali” c’è un maggior rispetto per i ciclisti di Beijing rispetto a quelli, ad esempio di New York. [...]

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