On September 1, the Administrative Committee of Xishan National Scenic Area issued a notice stating that starting from September 10, 2013, non-motorized vehicles (including electric bicycles and bicycles) would be prohibited from traveling downhill during daytime hours within the scenic area. Those who violate the regulation will be subject to warnings and fines of unspecified amounts. The new rule has drawn criticism from both netizens and local residents.
New Scenic Regulation Introduced for Safety
“Due to the increasing number of visitors, some cycling enthusiasts have ignored warning signs prohibiting downhill cycling, leading to prominent safety concerns on the paths. That’s why the scenic area implemented this regulation, which was also formulated with reference to Article 31 of the Yunnan Provincial Scenic Area Management Regulations,” said Lu Liping, deputy director of the Xishan National Scenic Area Administrative Committee Office. “Although some cyclists have still forcibly entered the area for exercise in recent days, over the past two days we’ve seen them pushing their bikes downhill, indicating the ban has served as a safety warning—this was indeed the original intent of the cycling prohibition.”
According to scenic area statistics, currently 100 to 200 people cycle uphill daily, with numbers reaching up to 300 on holidays. Due to increased visitor traffic and road conditions, one to two safety incidents occur each month, and 80% of annual traffic accidents on this road involve bicycles—whether self-inflicted falls or collisions. Complaints inevitably end up at the scenic area, prompting the ban. However, Lu Liping also stated, “At present, we’re not issuing fines, just providing reminders and guidance. But we ask cyclists to consider the safety of themselves and other visitors—we need to ensure the safety of visitors, cyclists, and tour buses alike. We hope cyclists adhere to time restrictions and avoid riding downhill between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Other times are still welcome for those who wish to enjoy cycling here. We hope residents and cyclists will understand and support this.”
Residents Question Simplistic Management
From the first day of the cycling ban on the 10th, security personnel have turned away over 40 cyclists, but 10 “stubborn ones” still made it up the mountain. The numbers have even increased on the second and third days. “Xishan’s road is the best route for cycling and exercise. Getting to the top also lets you see Dianchi Lake and enjoy the scenery of new Kunming. It’s quite disappointing that we can’t go up anymore,” lamented Mr. Li, a cyclist, along with his three companions as they left. Meanwhile, resident Mr. Deng ignored the explanations, argued with security, and angrily cycled up the mountain. Mr. Deng explained to reporters that he has been cycling for exercise on Xishan every week for nearly 10 years, and he simply can’t understand why a single regulation should make him give up this habit. “They’re cutting off their nose to spite their face. They banned bikes just because of one accident. There are plenty of accident-prone roads out there—why aren’t those closed? It’s really a management issue,” said one cyclist.
“We’ve just learned about the bicycle ban on Xishan these past couple of days. We think the scenic area is considering pedestrian safety, but everyone comes here to exercise because of Xishan’s environment. You can’t just ban access altogether—there should be a solution that works for everyone,” said Zhang Zhongming, a retired teacher. “The scenery here is beautiful, and it’s a great place for exercise. But the road is steep and narrow—if there are too many vehicles, it does pose a real safety risk for visitors. Banning cycling is indeed a good move, but the feelings of cyclists should also be considered. Ideally, allow cycling uphill and pushing downhill, or increase safety awareness efforts during peak hours or in hazardous sections by deploying staff. That way, all parties can understand.”
Experts Advise Better Solutions Over Bans
Mr. Xiao, owner of a mountain bike shop in Kunming, said there are roughly 10 alternative cycling routes nearby, such as the Jin hun Highway Line, Qiongzhu Temple Line, Xishan Mao Maoqing Line, and Baozhu Temple Line—all of which are good options. With nearly 100,000 cyclists in Kunming today, everyone arranges their rides based on personal schedules and locations. But many still can’t bear to give up Xishan, the best route, and hope the park management can learn from better management practices elsewhere to resolve the issue.
Journalists found that 90% of respondents do not support Xishan Park’s new regulation, while 10% are indifferent. Many interviewees said the cycling ban is unreasonable, incompatible with modern societal development, and fails to reflect an open and inclusive spirit of the park. Some social science experts pointed out that the scenic area management is using traditional models to solve new problems. While this may seem to eliminate many troubles, it actually damages the park’s image in the public eye and reflects an unwillingness to shoulder social responsibility. Limiting citizens’ bicycle access to maintain order and protect visitor safety is understandable, but the “one-size-fits-all” approach is questionable. Instead of resorting to extreme bans, better communication with the public should be strengthened to devise improved solutions and find a balance of interests. Public hearings could also be held for collective judgment. Good examples like Hangzhou’s West Lake and Guangzhou’s Baiyun Mountain, which emphasize guidance and safety awareness, could also be referenced.
Mr. Zhang from the Municipal People’s Congress also stated, “There’s only one problem, but there are many ways to solve it. For instance, speed bumps could be installed on downhill sections, or isolation zones set up to separate pedestrians from vehicles. We hope the management will evaluate the optimal solution among the many options rather than resorting to the simplest ‘one-size-fits-all’ method.”