Automobile backlash may spark bicycle renaissance in China(2)

In 2008, Hangzhou became the first city in China to establish a bike sharing network, which has grown to include 2,000 sharing stands and 50,000 bikes in the years since.

However, an article from Beijing Daily noted the practical problems faced by bike sharing programs, including issues with returning IC cards and bikes, as well as difficulties in bike maintenance.

In Beijing, users have to pay a returnable deposit to get an IC card before they can begin using the city's bike sharing program. However, there are only 14 stations where residents can return the card and have the deposit returned to them, an aggravating inconvenience for many.

A cycling renaissance

In the 1970s and 80s, China was known as the "Kingdom of the Bicycles," with bikes the major form of transportation.

But now, China's cycling population is in sharp decline. Official statistics from the MHURD show the number of people who commute by bicycle in urban areas dropping by 2 to 5 percent each year.

Despite these grim figures, industry insiders and experts remain optimistic about the return of the bicycle.

In Beijing, it is no longer unusual to see cyclists in helmets and neon cycling clothes rushing past cars stuck in traffic. Hu Chunxu is one of them.

"For anything within 10 kilometers, bicycles have the advantage. They guarantee a consistent time and speed, and you never get stuck in traffic jam. Also, it helps you to build up your body, so you don't have to spend time exercising," said Hu, a Beijing cycling enthusiast who has participated in bike riding competitions, in an interview with the Global Times.

After four years riding bikes, Hu has lost 15 kilos, and has also convinced a number of friends and relatives that bicycles are the best choice for commuting.

But like many cyclists in Beijing, Hu complains that clogged bike lanes, a lack of supporting facilities and air pollution make the city less than bike-friendly.

According to Hu, supporting facilities such as the shower rooms and parking spaces for cyclists would go a long way towards encouraging people to use bicycles.

Beijing has over 8 million bicycles. Ma Zhongchao, the association director, notes that an increasing number of the middle class have begun to ride bicycles in pursuit of an upbeat, optimistic lifestyle, saying that "during the weekends, a lot of people strap their fancy bicycles to the top of their luxury sedans and head to picturesque suburbs or mountainous areas."

This nascent renaissance has also helped to perk up some parts of China's bike industry, as well.

Chen Zhixiong, head of the Chengdu cycling club, has witnessed the rise of China's bicycle industry in the past three years. Sales volumes for his bicycle club have increased several times over, from 1 million yuan in 2011 to 4 million yuan this year, while the club's membership has grown from a few dozen in 2011 to over 500 this year. His club now also organizes and sponsors an amateur riding team.

The change in people's cycling consumption habits is obvious, Chen says. "Before, there were only shops that sell bikes, and it was a one-off transaction. But now, there are clubs who offer lifetime maintenance and after-sale service for the bikes," Chen told the Global Times.

Chen attributes the apparent growth in sales and use of bicycles to multiple reasons, saying "It's closely tied with the rise of high-end bicycles, changes in people's lifestyle and local authorities promoting bike riding."

Ma Zhongchao echoes Chen. Despite a rough past few years, "China's bicycle industry is promising. Traditional companies are stepping up their offerings to compete with the challenge posed by private cars. They are shifting from low price and low-tech to expensive, high-tech products," Ma told the Global Times.

One of China's oldest bike companies, Forever Bike, launched a new production line for aesthetically pleasing, vintage-look folding bikes in 2012. According to the company's promotional booklet, the bike is "lighter and higher quality." Perhaps not coincidentally, the price is also higher than ordinary bikes.

Authorities have also offered preferential policies for bike companies that focus on technological innovation and the use of high-tech materials, Ma noted.

A number of well-known international bike brands also see China's potential as a lucrative market, with each company organizing and sponsoring bike-riding events and games to raise publicity for their brands.

The return of bike riding, Ma says, is a good fit for China's current situation, where central and local governments are trying to build an environmentally-friendly society by reducing carbon emissions and curbing air pollution from automobiles.