Comments on: Less bikes in China?

By: My latest observations from China | Bicycle Design

My latest observations from China | Bicycle Design — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:39:16 +0000

[...] I want to share a few general observations about bicycle use in China. Some of you may remember a post from September of 2008 in which I said that there seemed to be less bikes overall on the roads (I realize I should have [...]

By: electric bikes

electric bikes — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:55:00 +0000

This is so cool! What a smart looking bicycle. And thanks for all the information.

By: Texmob

Texmob — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:08:00 +0000

maybe people are just getting more and more lazy

By: James

James — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:16:00 +0000

Yeah, I should have "fewer” grammatical errors on the blog, but I can't promise anything. As long as I continue to write posts quickly without much editing, some pretty bad mistakes are bound to occur from time to time.

Ron, I would probably be pretty nervous riding in parts of China too. Drivers don't seem to be very patient with the slow moving cyclists on the roads

Zhang, anon 11:04, and anon 9:46, thanks for the additional information and the local perspective on this. As someone who only travels there once a year, I appreciate hearing from those who live and ride in China.

I wrote the post while I was in Changzhou, but mostly my observations were from places down south in the Pearl River delta area. A couple daysafter I wrote the post I was in Shanghai and I did see a higher percentage of bicycles than down south, possibly due to restrictions aimed to decrease the use of motorbikes. I read something in the local English language paper about efforts to increase bicycle use in Shanghai and Bejing. I know that car use is already restricted in both of those cities, so maybe bicycle will remain strong or even increase in the urban centers.

In the years that I have been traveling to China, I have seen an incredible increase in traffic and it will only get worse as the percentage of the population who own cars continues to increase. As whassup indicated, bicycles are viewed by some as a symbol of poverty, but hopefully that attitude will change as people experince the problems of car culture in a heavily populated place.

On this trip, I saw a few lycra clad cyclists on road bikes and went by the Trek store in Shanghai. Good or bad, I think that emergence of cycling as a recreational activity is a sign that attitudes about bikes are changing in the country. I never saw anything like that in China 5, or even 3, years ago.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Another possible reason is the humidity here in Taiwan and Southern China.

From what I understand is that Asian people mainly use their bike for commuting and shopping.

Personally I find it very inconvenient riding a bike in this kind of climate.

On the other hand I found out mountain biking is getting pretty popular in Taiwan. In Taiwan mountain area climate is much cooler.

By: Whassup

Whassup — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:50:00 +0000

Another possible reason. If you ride bike in china, it is a sign that you don't have much money. i.e. you are poor.

Face-saving is very important in china.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:04:00 +0000

Hi, I have been living in China for the last 4 years, in the area I live in the goevernment has stopped issueing new liscences for mototbikes, and have made it illegal to have an electric bike. The aim is not so much to increase bicycle usage, but to get motorized petrol or electric off the road. I think they fear becomming a city like Hanoi that is heavily congested with motorbikes.

So the reality where I am is that the use of bicycles has probably increased, and people are opting for smaller folding style bicycles.

Long term the use of bicycles is going to be dependant of proper infrastructure being provided. Proper lanes for bikes, and suitable parking areas.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:45:00 +0000

Interesting James. Where are you in China ?, as that may be a factor.

By: Zhang

Zhang — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:08:00 +0000

Here’s a Chinese speaking
Yes there’s far more electric bikes sold than pedal powered bikes. A eletric bike usually cost only 2000RMB(300USD) and a cheap bike cost 300RMB(45USD). Most people can’t afford a car, and from normal bike to a electric bike is kind of an upgrade.

By: jr98664

jr98664 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:25:00 +0000

The "One less bike" slogan drives me mad as well. It's one bike fewer.