Pertinent and objective viewpoint

The writer's viewpoint is very pertinent, his reasoning and analysis is objective - a good article.

Environmental awareness is more important than bicycle lanes

The removal of bicyle lanes could be regarded as a result of increased living standards in China. Personally I am not sure how effective the re-introduction of bicyle lanes will be to ease transport pressure and benefit the environment. I think the key issue is the improvement of Chinese people's awareness of environmental protection. Do you think white-collars and other well-paid people are willing to ride bicyles and take the bus to work?
Well, I sincerely hope China and the whole world will march forward in the direction of green development. Haizi.

Taking another perspective on development

People always say that China's development has brought environmental damage, as if a less-developed China would reduce the world's environmental crisis. In comparison with western developed countries, the history of China's development is shorter. It took a long time for developed countries to get where they are today, it is easy to imagine the waste of resources and environmental damage this involved. It is unfair to now blame China for the whole environmental crisis. Amy

Who is blaming China?  

I would be interested to know why Amy believes that the article blames China. Development is, in essence, about access to resources / wealth and Chinese people today have more of both. What's more this generation of wealth has taken place over a very short period of time: 25 years. Unfortunately, social development has not matched the progress of economic development over this period. This is what worries outsiders and makes them wonder: will the Chinese development model derail itself and turn ugly?

The Bike is the Future  

The Bicycle is the future of transport in urban centres. There are a multitude of benefits for human well-being: reduced congestion, better air quality, healthier citizens, fewer traffic accident casualties, more space for other activites etc. Long live the Bicycle! One of humankinds greatest inventions! Matt

Public transport in Beijing  

Quote: "He will have quite a struggle on his hands with some of China's increasingly powerful city mayors, for whom the car has become a far more fitting symbol of economic and political success than the lowly bike. Every day in Beijing, for instance, more than 1,000 new cars are rolled out on its already highly congested streets. "

I believe that it will be impossible to expect voluntary restrictions on car ownership. One solution I can think of is to make it mandatory that only four families can form a cooperative to buy one car to be shared among them. One day a week will be for the exclusive use of a designated family. This leaves three days to be negotiated between themselves for extra use. This should satisfy needs that only a car can meet. For regular chores and for work public transportation and bicycles should suffice. In Beijing on a three week visit I got around comfortably by bus and by bicycle. For distances of a few miles its much faster by bicycle.

China does not have sprawling suburban residential areas where a car is a necessity. Large private single buildings are not allowed under a recent law passed in Beijing. This prohibition should apply countrywide. Furthermore in Beijing finding a parking place is next to impossible.

Kelvin Mok

bicycling is the future!

I belive the Chinese should start using the bicycle because if they want to keep their country the should stick to the bicycle for a while.