Pimp your ride

Beijing Bike Week

March 15 - 18,10 am - 9 pm

B1 Jinbao Place, 88 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng district

For the full program and more information visit Beijingbikeweek.com

Most Beijingers don't share the same stern spirit that 17-year-old A Gui did in the movie Beijing Bicycle. Most Beijingers also don't share last emperor Puyi's spirit, who owned over 20 bikes and ordered the removal of 30 door stoppers from the Forbidden City to ride freely within its grounds. Beijing Bike Week hopes to reignite some of this bike enthusiasm though. The three-day extravaganza will kick-off tomorrow with a display of high-tech and vintage bike models on Jinbao Jie. Nestled amongst the luxury car dealers, its less than subtle goal is to raise bicycles to luxury status and celebrate cycling culture in a city that has aborted the bicycle in favor of the car over the past two decades. The program also includes an alley cat race (an urban race open to anyone with a bicycle), bike polo, bicycle films and some seminars on bicycle maintenance and exercise. So do they face an easy ride?

"I don't know about Beijing Bike Week, but I haven't considered riding a bike to commute in Beijing," said Beijing native Zhang Qian, a 26-year-old banker. "It's very dangerous to ride alongside so many cars and buses. Moreover, vehicles take over the bike lanes. I won't invest in a bike that can be easily stolen," added Zhang, who takes the subway to work.

52-year-old Wu Sihan, who owns a launderette in town, took a different attitude. Wu is currently thinking about buying himself a bicycle. "I'll appreciate the exercise and that way I can avoid traffic congestion and get around much more quickly," said Wu. "I haven't done it so far because I can drive to work, which is less tiresome and a more decent way to travel," he confessed, then added: "Even if the city improves its infrastructure, it's important to educate people that riding bicycles is a way to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion."