Environmental pollution is driving the Chinese government to seek a return to the cycling era.

Cyclists weave between cars on a Beijing street. Photo: AFP

Every morning, before the fog has even lifted, Sun Jian cycles to work, weaving through the congested streets of downtown Beijing, packed with cars and buses. "There are so many cars in Beijing, it's like pouring water from a bucket into a bowl," Sun says. Sun Jian, 39, is a Beijing native and the founder of the city's popular cycling club.

If he's lucky, Sun only has to endure traffic jams and pollution on his bike ride to work. On unlucky days, he might even be involved in collisions when a car driver unexpectedly opens their door, or argue with a car owner who illegally parks in a bicycle parking spot. Sun Jian's 30-minute commute is highly representative, symbolizing the battle between cars and bicycles in China's megacities, the New York Times commented.

With China's urbanization and the increasing affluence of its citizens, many urban residents have moved to suburban areas to avoid the impact of construction sites. This has led to a rapid increase in urban car usage, and combined with the government's relaxed regulations, has gradually eliminated the decades-long habit of cycling to work among Chinese people.

In megacities like Beijing, this competition is even more pronounced. Buses, cars, and electric bikes are all vying for space that used to be used by bicycles. According to city government figures, only 12% of people now use bicycles to commute to work, compared to 38% in 2000.

However, faced with severe air pollution and traffic congestion, Beijing authorities are concerned about the increasing number of people abandoning cycling and are seeking ways to change this trend. City traffic officials hope that by 2020, the percentage of people using bicycles to commute to work can be raised to 18%.

This is part of the "Green Transportation" plan that the Beijing government is committed to promoting, aiming to improve air quality and traffic congestion. Air pollution has become particularly serious in recent years, leading to a dramatic increase in lung disease cases.

After the founding of the new China in 1949, bicycles became a cultural icon of the nation. Bicycles, sewing machines, and watches were once three essential items that every Chinese family needed to own.

Just over 20 years ago, the streets of Beijing were filled with the sound of bicycle bells. Bicycle repair shops were constantly busy. In fact, the number of bicycles was so high that in 1994, Beijing's traffic authorities sought advice from the United Nations on measures to manage bicycles in the context of the rapidly increasing number of private cars.

Dan Burden, then an advisor to the United Nations, said that when consulted by the Chinese government, he offered a completely opposite view. "Bicycles are the real victims of the uncontrolled and rapid increase in the number of cars, and that shouldn't lead to their elimination," he said. "Because bicycles have far less space than cars."

However, Burden's proposal was ignored. "We believed that bicycles were the solution to the problem, but that option wasn't fully accepted by them," the former expert shared.

Since then, China has become the world's largest automotive market. The number of new cars sold in this market in 2014 grew by 9%, reaching 11.8 million vehicles.

However, persuading Beijing residents to limit their car use is no easy task. To encourage more people to cycle to work, Beijing's urban planning officials have proposed banning car parking on side streets less than 6 meters wide, establishing more dedicated bicycle lanes, and installing fences to demarcate these dedicated routes.

However, many cyclists believe that these measures are unlikely to make Beijing's streets more suitable for bicycles in the short term.

"What I can't stand is that there are no dedicated bike lanes here, and the roads are often occupied by cars," said Fang Yongbin. Fang moved to Beijing in the summer of 2014. During his first month, he tried cycling to work, but quickly had to give up the idea. He also said that the measures the authorities intend to implement are unconvincing.

According to a recent report published by Peking University, air pollution, traffic safety concerns, and a lack of space are the main reasons why urban residents are reluctant to use bicycles.

Professor Li Wei of the Beijing Institute of Urban Planning and Design Research stated that the lack of parking spaces remains the primary cause. He is currently involved in drafting regulations to improve infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Beijing. Currently, the city only has enough parking spaces for 2.5 million cars. "Many cars are not parked in designated areas, but right on the roadside," Professor Li said. "Beijing's traffic policies have always favored cars."

He also stated that the phenomenon of car users not strictly adhering to traffic regulations is one of the challenges that bicycles are facing.

"Private cars in Beijing are the most unrestrained and arbitrary," Professor Li Wei said. "Whenever there's a traffic jam, cars encroach on lanes designated for bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles. Nowhere in the world do cars go wherever they want."

According to VNE