Traditionally a "Kingdom of Bicycles," China is eyeing a bicycle comeback for urban commuters, making public bikes available for rent in cities to relieve traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions. However, the fast increasing numbers of automobiles are edging cyclists from bicycle lanes, as the percentage of commuters on bikes continues to drop, despite the emergence of a niche market for road cycling.

People cycle on a Shanghai street. Photo: CFP

Chen Zhixiong, 36, loves to cycle. As the owner of Chengdu Lohas Bicycle Club, he has taken one of his three high-end bikes to work, rain or shine, for the past six years.

Despite the convenience of cycling, Chen notes that there are still a number of obstacles to bike riding in densely populated urban areas, among them poor air quality, people and cars using bike lanes, and automobile emissions.

"Local authorities promised to set up a lot of bike paths, but all over you find bike paths occupied by parked cars or being phased out all of a sudden. It's dangerous to ride bicycles in the same lane as cars," Chen told the Global Times.

Chen's complaint is not uncommon. Since China overtook the United States as the world's largest auto market in 2009, the rapid growth of the auto industry has caused severe consequences - congestion and pollution.

To tackle these problems, China's central and local governments have put a great deal of effort into encouraging commuters to use bicycles instead of cars, giving bikes an opportunity for a comeback.

At a national level, China has put forth an ambitious plan to build at least 100 pedestrian and bike transportation pilot cities, and boost the number of people who ride and walk by 5 to 10 percent by 2015, according to a recent notice issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MHURD).

"A revival in bike riding is killing two birds with one stone. It can help alleviate traffic, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions while conserving energy. It's good for the country's development," Ma Zhongchao, director of the China Bicycle Association, told the Global Times.

For several years, Ma and his association have dedicated themselves to reviving bike riding in China. The association has held bike-riding events across the country that have attracted tens of thousands of cyclists. They have also given input to policymakers on how to curb the growing number of private cars and expand the number of cyclists on the road.

However, Ma admits that, despite China's ambition to get more people moving on two wheels, there are a number of obstacles standing in the way of a return to the golden age of the 1970-80s, when a majority of people commuted on bikes.

A cyclist rides between parked cars in Shanghai. Photo: CFP

Practical obstacles

Riding bikes in China is not easy. The top worry is safety, as bicycle paths have been edged out or phased out, forcing cyclists to use faster and more dangerous auto lanes.

"In the long run, the design and planning for bicycle and pedestrian lanes in China are not ideal. Most bicycle paths are not wide enough, and are too few in number, too distant from each other, and are not harmonious with surroundings," Tang Kai, general planner of MHURD, told Beiing Daily.

Tang suggested that authorities make the width of pedestrian and bike lanes a top priority.

In crowded urban areas where space is at a premium, local authorities should adopt specific measures to cut down the number of parked cars, and reduce the space occupied by automobile lanes to save space for the bike lanes, Tang said.

In some cases, according to Tang, cities "cancel or condense bike and pedestrian lanes" to save space for automobiles.

Another issue is convenience: many destinations in sprawling cities are an hour's bike ride away.

"It's difficult to rely on bikes for a commuter when you live in the suburbs but work in downtown. The distance is too far," Tang said.

Public bicycles for rent at a stand in Beijing. Photo: CFP

Rent-a-bike

Many provinces and cities have turned to bike sharing programs to boost the popularity of cycling. But these efforts have encountered a skeptical public.

In Beijing, for instance, roughly 19.7 percent of residents commute by bicycle, with the government hoping to raise that number to 23 percent by 2015, according to a Xinhua news agency report.

To achieve this goal, in 2011 the city began to set up public bike sharing stands in dense residential areas and near subway stops, to encourage people to use public transportation.

The city has vowed to build 1,000 bike sharing stations holding 50,000 bikes by 2015, with the vast majority of sharing stations within three kilometers of a major subway station.

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.