Customers are able to build their own bamboo frame
Not more than a decade ago, the streets of Beijing were clogged by millions of bicycles, and few cars could be seen on the roads.
Today, the opposite is true - and China's capital has practically become a graveyard for rusty bicycles. But a workshop that teaches people how to construct a bamboo-framed bicycle entirely from scratch puts a new spin on Beijing's traditional cycling culture.
Founded in 2013, Bamboo Bicycles Beijing is a workshop that attempts to renew interest in the traditional Beijing bicycle by putting a new, more sustainable spin on its frame.
The workshop, which is located in a traditional Beijing alleyway known as a Hutong, offers participants a chance to build their own bamboo-framed bicycles out of raw bamboo.
"People have the idea of building a bamboo bike is more sustainable for the environment. Second is, the crafting - something to do with their hands, something to make on their own."
"And another part is just, some people like bikes. Some people just want to have a bamboo frame, some people are just attracted to the idea of having something that no one else ever has," said Steven Neo, Bamboo Bikes Beijing Co-coordinator.
Customers are able to build their own bamboo frame within just two days at a price of around 2,000 yuan. Wheels, handlebars, and seat are considered additional costs.
Gabriella Liu is a 17-year old high school student and Beijing resident. She spent several days at the workshop building a bike for her parents.
"Riding a bicycle is not only a method of transportation, but it's a culture, it's because, like when my parents were little in Beijing, they all rode on bikes, and at that time a bike was like a luxury item. If you had a bike in your house, that was really awesome," said Gabruella Liu, a high school student.
Workshop founder David Wang says he was inspired after finding piles of old, rusted bicycles in Beijing no longer in use. Wang says besides offering a chance to build a unique-looking bicycle to reinvigorate the idea of cycling in the city, he is hoping to establish a community for Beijing commuters.
"I think the biggest thing is that we want to change sort of the attitude towards different kinds of mobility. One of things when we were doing research before was talking about how the private car is very valuable socially, it gives a certain kind of social status."
"By creating a community that values other forms of mobility, that actually makes it a lot easier to say OK, I want to ride my bike to work, I want to ride my bike to school because it's an expression of myself, it represents who I am as a person, and I think that's very important," said David Wang, Bamboo Beijing founder.
Wang says the workshop has already attracted hundreds of participants, most of them Chinese.
