Vehicles occupying bike lanes, hidden dangers at T-junctions, and some vehicles going against traffic flow leave almost no space for cyclists.
The Beijing municipal government is actively addressing public concerns such as "cycling is strenuous, parking is difficult, and bikes can easily go missing." On September 24, the local standard "Urban Road Space Planning and Design Code" began soliciting public feedback, with hopes of "returning road rights to cyclists and pedestrians." It proposes that for all newly built urban roads in the city, if non-motorized vehicle lanes are provided, car parking spaces will no longer be designated, and existing ones will be gradually phased out to facilitate cycling. Is cycling convenient? What difficulties might one encounter? Recently, I took a public rental bicycle for a firsthand experience.
In early autumn, I chose to cycle in the areas around Chaoyangmen Outer Street to Chaoyang Road, as well as around Huguosi Street.
You don’t know how hard cycling is until you try it—just getting on the bike brought a series of challenges.
Cars occupy lanes, pedestrians weave through
Going against traffic has become a habit
Just as I was about to set off, I realized there was almost no space for cyclists—rows of cars had already taken up parts of the bike lanes. Cyclists could only ride close to the motor vehicle lanes.
While cycling from Chaoyangmen from west to east, I noticed it was common for private cars to occupy bike lanes. Some vehicles didn’t seem to have been there for just a short while—their hoods were covered in a thin layer of dust. Others parked in the bike lane and then leisurely sat in their driver’s seats playing with their phones, showing no intention of leaving soon. With pedestrians also weaving through the bike lanes, cyclists had no choice but to ride dangerously close to motor vehicle lanes. On some stretches, they even had to merge into the motor lanes.
Another worrying phenomenon during the ride was the prevalence of cyclists going against the traffic flow. From time to time, groups of cyclists would come toward me in the wrong direction, creating an intimidating spectacle that made even law-abiding cyclists feel pressured. For those inexperienced in cycling, collisions were highly likely. I had to slow down and carefully dodge them. Middle-aged women on bikes, delivery men on tricycles, and young guys on electric bikes all treated going against traffic as routine, preferring the convenience and time-saving over using the proper lanes, thereby increasing the risks for everyone.
T-junctions lack warning signs
Impatient riders run red lights
Unexpected T-junctions also posed real concerns for cyclists. Near Jingguang Bridge, a section of the road featured a north-south T-junction on the right, where many vehicles entered and exited. With no clear signage or convex mirrors installed, vehicles approaching from the north or south could easily collide with cyclists traveling east or west.
After observing for ten minutes here, I was glad to see that many drivers slowed down, and no accidents occurred. However, one elderly female cyclist found herself caught between oncoming reverse traffic and vehicles exiting the junction. She managed to stop just in time to avoid a collision.
When I reached Jingguang Bridge, the light turned red. As a complex intersection with multiple lanes, the red light lasted longer here, testing the patience of many. While most waited, a young woman in her twenties seized the moment when cross traffic thinned and cycled through the red light. A nearby middle-aged man shook his head disapprovingly at her actions. Yet, just over 30 seconds later, when the light still hadn’t changed, he too grew impatient and weaved his way through the red light.
Continuing on to Jintai Road subway station, I found a public bike docking station—but not a single bike was available. Upon asking, I learned the station hadn’t officially opened yet. I rode on to near Hujialou North Street and finally found a functioning dock. Nearby, at the Shuiduizi Intersection South bus stop, many people were still waiting for buses. When I asked an elderly woman why she hadn’t applied for a public bike card, she replied, “I don’t know how to apply—it seems troublesome. I lost a bike before, and taking the bus is easier.” Over ten minutes later, her bus still hadn’t arrived. She could only anxiously hope it would come soon and that the traffic jam wouldn’t worsen...
Narrow roads, heavy traffic
Cycling is tough on congested streets
At around 9 a.m., with the sky a brilliant blue, cycling to explore scenic spots like Houhai and Beijing’s hutongs seemed like a great idea. Around Tiananmen and Houhai, there were quite a few cyclists, but very few were riding the iconic red public bikes. “Why not rent one of these bikes while traveling in Beijing?” I asked a tourist from Shandong, pointing to the public bike I had rented on Wenyi Street. He looked puzzled: “Can you really rent them? This place is so big, walking is exhausting, but I haven’t seen any rental spots.”
Currently, the limited number of public bike rental stations in Beijing is a major factor affecting rental rates. On the “Beijing Public Bicycle” website, searching the distribution map shows that in Beijing’s urban area, stations are mainly concentrated within the Fourth Ring Road to the east, with hardly any in the western part of the city. Because it’s still in the trial phase, the uneven distribution means places like Houhai still lack rental stations, a situation that will likely persist for some time.
On Xishiku Street, shops lined both sides, and cars occupied much of the bike lanes, making the already narrow paths even tighter. During my ride, I had to brake suddenly to avoid a collision. The bike lane was so crowded I had to temporarily use the adjacent service road. Just then, a taxi approached from behind, and as I prepared to move aside, I spotted a middle-aged man cycling toward me in the wrong direction—trapped between a blockade ahead and a “chaser” behind. I managed to brake in time to avoid an accident.
In busy, congested areas, cycling is often obstructed and far from smooth. Though small, bicycles can still be dangerous when colliding with pedestrians. Add in moving cars, oncoming cyclists, and vehicles frequently darting out from the sides, and cyclists must stay extra vigilant. In spacious, less crowded scenic areas, cycling is great for sightseeing. But in crowded spots, tourists must divide their attention between the scenery and the chaotic cycling environment—not ideal. Any accidents could lead to disputes, making the experience more trouble than it’s worth.
During Beijing’s morning and evening rush hours, it’s common to see cars stretching in hundred-meter lines, turning the capital into the “capital of traffic jams.” But as long as cyclists stay cautious, biking remains a viable option. If more people opt for public transport or cycling, it benefits energy conservation, environmental protection, and personal health. In the long run, what’s not to like?