David Wang's workshop in Langjia Hutong.
They first appeared in the Forbidden City as a Western tribute to the Qing Dynasty rulers. About 100 years ago, Aisin-Gioro Puyi, China's last emperor, ordered the thresholds of many gates in the palace to be sawn off, so he could ride his bike without obstacles.
In 1950, the first Chinese bicycle - a "Flying Pigeon" - was made in Tianjin. Up to the 1970s, women often demanded a bicycle, a radio and a sewing machine before they would accept a marriage request.
As living standards improved, bicycles became more common. Pictures of large groups of cyclists, described as a "Moving Great Wall", became iconic images of the "Bicycle Kingdom".
However, bikes have failed to keep up with the accelerating economy.
According to Beijing transport authorities, bicycles accounted for 63 percent of trips in Beijing in the 1980s, but that dropped to 17.8 percent in 2014. The lack of bicycle lanes and barriers between cyclists and motorists are the main reasons of the downward trend.
A survey released this month by Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport showed that 31.5 percent of trips were made by car - down from 33.6 percent in 2010. But the number of cars keeps rising. Last year, 23.85 million new cars were registered in China, taking car ownership up to 172 million, the second largest in the world after the US.
"Four wheels" is the new status symbol, while those on two wheels are often stereotyped as poor. "Bicycles are misunderstood as a low-end mode of transport," says Wang.
"I want to make a difference."
MOBILITY CULTURE
Wang quit his previous job in 2014 to launch his bicycle career. Two years on, he has a website and a community that organizes picnics, rides and other gatherings.
Wang rejects mass production and its potential profits. He believes the beauty of the bamboo bicycle is that everyone can make their owns. A self-made bicycle will encourage its maker to ride more.
"We are not just teaching people to make their own bicycles out of bamboo, but, more importantly, we're encouraging a lifestyle and mobility culture that express our hope for a sustainable city", says Wang.
Most of his workshop participants were expats at first, but more young Chinese are joining.
Before joining the workshop last year, Xiao Luo was a repairman at a bicycle shop in Guangzhou. When he first saw Wang's bamboo bicycles, he was exhilarated, not only because they were made of bamboo, but also they were handcrafted.
He says the workshop gives him a sense of pride that making a bicycle is a craft that deserves respect.
"I never imagined I would make a bicycle myself. It seems that a little technician has grown into a craftsman."
Dong Sheng was one of members making the first batch of the bikes. He remembers riding to Tian'anmen Square, where they found the bike lanes so wide. "We finally find the dignity of cyclists," he recalls happily.
