The modernization of a city does not mean bicycles should give way to cars, says an article in Beijing News. An excerpt follows:

In recent years it has become increasingly difficult to ride a bicycle on the roads of Beijing. Many bicycle lanes in the capital have become narrower and narrower, and some of them have even been replaced by passages for larger vehicles or car parks.

That has led to a disorderly scramble for space, with cyclists and car drivers competing on crowded roads. As a result, the number of traffic accidents has been steadily increasing.

Because cycling is no longer so comfortable, more and more bicycle riders have had no choice but to buy their own private cars.

The increase in the number of private cars has aggravated traffic congestion in the capital and thus further reduced the space for bicycle lanes.

Facing the explosive increase of the number of private cars, city administrators have stepped up schemes to upgrade the public transport network.

It is a fact that Beijing residents have been provided with an ever-improving public transportation service due to the accelerated input by related departments in the past year.

Undeniably, a healthy city traffic system needs a convenient and highly efficient public transportation network.

At the same time, the construction of a well-developed road network for pedestrians and cyclists is also necessary, especially in a densely populated city like Beijing.

In modern times, it is unrealistic to advocate building a city without vehicles. However, to reduce the use of motor vehicles to the minimum is undoubtedly a sensible choice for city planners.

The charm of a city rests not only in creating an ideal living environment, modern office buildings and high-grade entertainment facilities. It is also decided by whether the city has a comfortable transportation network for all, including drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

(China Daily December 29, 2005)