[sustran] fwd: [transport-l] chinese take-bikes-away

[Paul Barter]

>From: frank at aseed.antenna.nl
>To: traffic-l at eyfa.org, transport-l at oudenaarden.nl
>X-Link: WINDMAIL for LAN and standalone PC (aseed.antenna.nl)
>Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 19:55:21 +0100
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>Subject: [transport-l] chinese take-bikes-away
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>
>- A SEED Europe Transport Mailinglist
>-
>CHINESE TAKE-BIKES-AWAY
>
>The world capital of the bicycle is giving way to the car. Everywhere
>in the world, the car is being pushed out of the city centres. Except
>for Beijing. On the busy Xisi Dong Da Jie, the reverse happened.
>This "West Four East Road" is, as the name predicts, een eastern
>side street of the fourth street west of the royal palaces of the
>Forbidden City. From 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. it is not allowed to ride a
>bicycle there any longer. Suddenly, the street has become a four-
>lane highway.
>Unaware of this fact, cyclists turn into the Xisi Dong Da Jie,
>surrounded by cars, buses and trolleys. There they are halted by a
>policeman or a 'traffic assistant'. Dumbfounded they get off their
>bikes. If they want to continue, they'll have to walk, or else return.
>No exceptions are being made for the inhabitants and shopkeepers
>in the street.
>"The cyclists understand the measure and therefore they don't
>protest", claims one of the traffic assistants, a former employee of
>a state company and now working for 140 DM a month. True,
>during half an hour of abservation on a Saturday afternoon, nobody
>is protesting. But one of the 'victims' likes to state that he thinks
>the biking prohibition is ridiculous in the weekend. The shops on
>Xisi Dong Da Jie are virtually empty. "If this continues, we'll lose
>our customers", some shopkeepers say.
>On the same street is the police information desk. But information
>about the anti-bicycle regulations is being refused. Only the
>highest chief is allowed to say something about that. One of the
>policemen in the street also regards the question for information as
>the attempt to filch a state secret from him. Angrily he walks off. A
>colleague is easier:" The next street is being renovated, so the bus
>& trolley lines are being moved to this street. The traffic also needs
>the bike lanes."
>But the Chinese press foresees a scenario in which the bicycle will
>be banned permanently from Xisi Dong Da Jie, and that more
>streets will follow. Because despite all pollution and traffic
>digestion, cars are much more important for the economic progress
>than all 9 million Beijing bikes together. This is why the cars have
>managed for the first time to chase the bikes off the street.
>Until recently, bikes in Beijing ruled the streets. Bikes are still
>cheap. You can get one at 40 DM. A nice and expensive one used
>to be a status symbol. That role is being taken over by the car. The
>cheapest car still costs about 18.000 DM. On imported cars there
>is a 100% import tax. Ideal for China's 'new rich'. They prefer to
>drive around in lenghty limousines, that are used outside China
>only by kings and mafiosi. With a mixture of respect and jealousy,
>the biking part of the public gives way to its car-driving elite.
>
>(source: De Volkskrant 27/10/98 (2nd biggest Dutch daily))
>
>Frank van Schaik
>Transport Campaign Coordinator
>A SEED Europe
>PO Box 92066
>1090 AB  Amsterdam
>The Netherlands
>tel: +31-20-6682236
>fax: +31-20-6650166
>email: <frank at aseed.antenna.nl>
>