Henan puts brakes on student night cycling trend

For university students, grabbing a shared bike to join a few friends for an intercity evening ride covering 50 kilometers in Henan province may be the ultimate expression of enthusiasm for young cyclists. But as the number of participants grew, so did the problems.

The collective cycling trend has been a hit with university students in Henan, where groups of students big or small set off on shared bikes late at night and pedal for over five hours to cover the 50-km stretch from Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, to the city of Kaifeng.

The trend was inspired by four young women from Zhengzhou who set off on an impulse journey to try Kaifeng's famous guantangbao, a type of soup dumpling, on June 18. Leaving at around 7 pm, they cycled on shared bikes before being rewarded with a plate of steaming dumplings at their destination.

Their adventure quickly went viral on social media. In fact, it became such a sensation that a hashtag, "Youth has no price, night ride to Kaifeng has it," has become a popular topic.

What began as a spontaneous trip for dumplings has turned into a symbol of youthful energy and has enabled others to bask in the joy of shared experiences. The bike ride has become so popular that, on some nights, long lines of cyclists can be seen stretching across the road.

However, what began as an exciting adventure also led to a series of problems.

With large numbers of students riding together, the influx of cyclists caused traffic disruptions, particularly as some groups blocked lanes or rode side by side.

In response to the problem, both Zhengzhou and Kaifeng's traffic police announced temporary measures on Saturday afternoon. From 4 pm on Saturday to noon on Sunday, bike lanes along Zhengkai Avenue connecting the two cities will be closed to cyclists, they said in an announcement.

Meanwhile, residents in Kaifeng reported issues such as bikes being improperly parked near city landmarks, making it difficult for people to walk in these areas. And in Zhengzhou, a shortage of bikes at metro stations left many commuters stranded.

On Saturday, the three major bike-sharing platforms — Hellobike, DiDi Bike and Mobike — issued a joint notice stating that bikes will be locked if ridden outside of designated zones in Zhengzhou. It also warned people about the health risks of riding shared bikes for long distances.

Also on Saturday, the Kaifeng government called on students to avoid riding in large groups, reminding them that "youth needs passion but also safety." It urged the students to take responsibility for their actions and consider public safety.

Although the late night rides have been paused, the experience has left many students with fond memories.

Liu Lulu, a student at Henan University, said on Sunday that her experience was unforgettable and meaningful.

"People sang together and cheered for each other while climbing uphill together," she said. "I could feel the passion of the young people. And it was much more than a bike ride."

She said she and other students at the university learned about the traffic restrictions and stricter controls installed on intercity cycling over the weekend.

"Causing problems for the public is the last thing we want to do. Of course, we will follow the new rules and suggestions. I am sure we can show our vibrant spirit in other ways."