Why are bicycles not permitted to ride on roads within city limits?

Why are bicycles not permitted to ride on roads within city limits?
Apr 5, 2007 06:22
WINDENERGY Points: Join Date: Jan 24, 2006 Status: offline	Hello all, Just finished an excellent 2 week holiday in Yunnan Province. Everyday was sunny and mild and I met many new friends. Today, I went to Wuchang to retrieve an old, beater bicycle that I bought last November. Since I now live in Hankou, i had to ride this bike from Wuchang, past the Yellow Crane Temple, across the #1bridge and into the commercial Hankou district. Along the way, I must have passed 5 police officers that were standing beside the road directing traffic (a good sign considering the traffic mayhem in Wuhan). Every one of them,after seeing that I was riding on the road, alongside the traffic, pointed at the sidewalk and shouted something unintelligible in Chinese to me. After the third policemen did this, I figured out that they were directing me to ride my bicycle on the sidewalk, not in the street. Now the right-side of the road offers plenty of roomfor a bicycle.The sidewalks were crowded with people, some carrying babies, or walking beside young children. Inj my home country, I always rode my bicycle on the street and never had an accident. I don't know why the police wanted me ride my bicycle on the crowded sidewalks? If anybody has the answer to this question, I would appreciate an answer. Happy Spring, __Windenergy__

Apr 5, 2007 06:22

WINDENERGY
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Join Date: Jan 24, 2006
Status: offline

Hello all,

Just finished an excellent 2 week holiday in Yunnan Province. Everyday was sunny and mild and I met many new friends.

Today, I went to Wuchang to retrieve an old, beater bicycle that I bought last November. Since I now live in Hankou, i had to ride this bike from Wuchang, past the Yellow Crane Temple, across the #1bridge and into the commercial Hankou district.
Along the way, I must have passed 5 police officers that were standing beside the road directing traffic (a good sign considering the traffic mayhem in Wuhan). Every one of them,after seeing that I was riding on the road, alongside the traffic, pointed at the sidewalk and shouted something unintelligible in Chinese to me. After the third policemen did this, I figured out that they were directing me to ride my bicycle on the sidewalk, not in the street.
Now the right-side of the road offers plenty of roomfor a bicycle.The sidewalks were crowded with people, some carrying babies, or walking beside young children. Inj my home country, I always rode my bicycle on the street and never had an accident. I don't know why the police wanted me ride my bicycle on the crowded sidewalks? If anybody has the answer to this question, I would appreciate an answer.

Happy Spring,
__Windenergy__

Apr 5, 2007 16:10

APAULT
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Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
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I believe it is because there are so many bicycles and so many accidents. In Zhanjiang you cannot licence a new motorcycle for this reason.***

I understand the congestion and safety issue, but I consider it sad that they prevent the poorer people from getting around but let the rich use their cars.

*** as a footnote: the outcome in Zhanjiang is that many people don't register their motorbikes. :)

Apr 5, 2007 19:46	#2
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: Offline	Here in Xian, some street are designed only for cars and buses. The sidewalk has a path for bicycles. The path should not be occupied by people, but some people didn't obey this rule and just walk on the path. So maybe it is the same situatiion as Wuhan.

Apr 6, 2007 01:07

WINDENERGY
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Join Date: Jan 24, 2006
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Dear May,

No, in Wuhan there aren't any special lanes for bicycles. Even on the 'walking street' (bu xing jie), bicycles are prohibited. The fact is that Wuhan is not very biker-friendly and that's why people who can afford cars buy them.
Such a pity, somebody should let the local government know about this environmental mishap.
Bicycles are the most efficient means of transportation ever developed by humans, and bicyclists in Wuhan are discriminated against!

__Windenergy__

Apr 6, 2007 03:03

MAY001
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Join Date: Sep 28, 2005
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"Bicycles are the most efficient means of transportation ever developed by humans"
I agree.

And I think it's quite intersting that less city in China will act like your words. You know, most of Chinese still can't afford a car. So many of us are using bicycle. Some cities, such as Chongqing, where mountains are everywhere truly has less bikes, But I don't think Wuhan is a city with less bike. So it's really hard to believe that Wuhan don't have lanes for bikes.

Apr 6, 2007 03:12

WINDENERGY
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Join Date: Jan 24, 2006
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I just got off the telephone talking to a police officer down at immigration. I had time to voice my concern that Wuhan is a very bicycle-unfriendly city. SHE AGREED WITH ME !!!
But, how does one foreigner go about changing the entire culture? Fact is, Wuhan is all about development and more money, more cars, more pollution.
If a person wants to ride a bicycle in this city, that person had to take the chance and learn how to ride on the streets. Even if the police tell you to get on sidewalk, one should just shake their head and 'Ting-Bu-Dong' to what they are being told.
This is yet another example of the authoritorian style government that China has adopted. He who has the authority makes the rules...a far cry from either Socialist or Communist policies...enter the Emperor.

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