Out of 600 cyclists, only one obeyed traffic rules at six intersections—results from a recent "Search for Civilized Cyclists" campaign launched by the Taiyuan traffic police department were shocking.
According to regulations, non-motorized vehicles that successfully pass six intersections without any traffic violations can be awarded the title of "Civilized Cyclist" and receive rewards. However, over 31 days and nearly 600 observed cyclists, only one "Civilized Cyclist" was found.
Gao Pengfei, deputy director of the Publicity and Education Division of the Taiyuan Traffic Police Detachment, said the campaign aimed to raise awareness of civilized behavior, law-abiding conduct, and safety among road users, but the results were unexpectedly disappointing.
"Every time I followed them to an intersection with traffic lights but no police, I was often the only one waiting patiently at the red light. Watching others ignore the red light without a hint of remorse as they rode away, I couldn’t help but lament their disregard for their own safety," said Liu Qian, the reporter who conducted the observation.
The observation results showed that non-motorized vehicle violations mainly involved running red lights and riding in motor vehicle lanes, with the former accounting for up to 60%. Taiyuan traffic police analyzed the reasons behind these violations, noting that some riders brazenly ran red lights without checking for vehicles, while others followed the crowd—if everyone else crossed, they did too. As for cycling in motor lanes, some did so for speed, while others were forced there because bike lanes were blocked by illegally parked cars.
"Many people don’t take cycling violations seriously; some even think traffic lights are only for cars," commented a Taiyuan traffic police officer.
However, the traffic accidents caused by non-motorized vehicle violations are a sobering reminder. Data from Taiyuan traffic police show: in 2012, bicycle-related accidents resulted in 29 deaths and 124 injuries; electric bicycle-related accidents caused 27 deaths and 253 injuries.
■ Cause Analysis
Herd mentality? Poor road design?
Over several days, reporters observed multiple busy intersections in Taiyuan and found uncivilized cycling behavior was rampant. At Taiyuan’s May 1st Square, a cyclist rode against pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk. When the traffic light turned red, the cyclist saw few cars and simply pedaled across the intersection.
Gao Pengfei believes the main reason behind "Chinese-style cycling" is the belief that laws don’t apply to the masses, coupled with a lack of awareness about following rules, safety, and civility. He noted that similar to "Chinese-style jaywalking," this phenomenon stems from herd mentality. Once someone leads by running a red light, others follow. Additionally, both pedestrians and cyclists often adopt a "victim" mindset, assuming cars should yield even if they break the rules.
"Moreover, in accident investigations, when a car is involved with a non-motorized vehicle, the car is always held responsible, which emboldens non-motorized riders to violate rules without fear," said Gao.
Some cyclists also reported that right-turning vehicles at certain intersections don’t stop for red lights and fail to yield to pedestrians or cyclists. This makes it impossible for rule-abiding pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely. Additionally, to ease car traffic congestion, some areas have converted former bike lanes into motor lanes, forcing cyclists to "compete" with cars for road space.
■ Related Countermeasures
Current penalties hard to enforce; lasting change requires stronger education
According to the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, fines of 20 yuan are stipulated for violations such as running red lights, cycling on sidewalks, or carrying unauthorized passengers. But enforcement is difficult in practice.
"First, there aren’t enough police officers. Cyclists often come in groups, making it impossible to penalize them all. Sometimes when we try to issue fines, they push their bikes away forcefully, leading to physical altercations and disputes," said Gao. In Zhejiang, strict penalties for pedestrians and cyclists violating traffic rules began in March this year, but enforcement has often been met with verbal abuse and even assaults on officers.
Experts say lasting solutions to "Chinese-style jaywalking" or "Chinese-style cycling" require enhanced education and broader societal change. Relevant departments should step up publicity about traffic laws and safety knowledge, especially parents setting good examples for children.
"Many kids are taught in school to obey traffic rules, but incorrect behavior from parents can mislead them," suggested Gao. He proposed linking traffic violations to personal credit records.