Whether on urban roads or forest and mountain trails, the presence of cyclists is becoming increasingly common. However, as cycling grows in popularity, so do the problems: urban bike lanes are often taken over by motor vehicles, scenic areas may offer cycling routes but fail to provide rental bikes; professional cycling demands skilled techniques, yet training institutions are scarce... Behind these issues lies a mismatch between urban expansion and cycling, as well as inadequate supporting facilities and knowledge training systems. Therefore, to better develop cycling as an accessible leisure activity, cyclists and related institutions must make greater efforts on multiple fronts.
Urban cycling needs roads.
Che Xiaojie, who lives in Beiyuan, Tongzhou District, Beijing, says the biggest headache he faces when cycling is the lack of dedicated paths. “Although there are bike lanes along the service road of the Jingtong Expressway, they run parallel to the motor vehicle lanes and are almost the same width. During morning and evening rush hours, the bike lanes are often occupied by cars, forcing cyclists to weave in and out of long lines of vehicles, stopping and starting. When it’s impossible to pass, we have no choice but to ride on the sidewalk,” he told reporters helplessly.
According to Che’s account, reporters recently conducted an on-site investigation along the service road of the Jingtong Expressway in Beijing and found that, as he described, there is no physical barrier between the motor vehicle and bike lanes—only a solid white line separates them. Even when traffic is flowing smoothly, many drivers veer into the bike lane to overtake, creating significant safety hazards for cyclists.
A netizen reported discovering a clearly marked bike lane next to the Liuyi Company Overpass on Weiyi Road in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, which is only about 10 centimeters away from the edge of the adjacent sidewalk. Riding on such a narrow path would seemingly require the skills of an acrobat. Reporters learned that similar bike lanes are not uncommon in China—some are combined with sidewalks, while others simply end abruptly. One citizen expressed strong dissatisfaction, saying that reducing bike lane widths not only undermines urban dignity and social equity but also disrespects the city’s humanistic spirit.
In fact, many commuters choose to drive or take buses not because they don’t want to cycle, but because they often face difficult dilemmas on the road: cycling leftward merges them into motor vehicle lanes, which is too dangerous, and more often than not, bike lanes are occupied by cars, increasing collision risks. Cycling rightward leads them onto sidewalks, which is against regulations. Although authorities currently do not penalize this behavior, many cyclists feel guilty about it. Che Xiaojie suggests that bike lanes should not only be separate but also equipped with measures to prevent motor vehicles from entering, ensuring their exclusive use.
Scenic cycling needs bikes.
Unlike urban cycling, where the main issue is the lack of roads, the biggest problem for cyclists in scenic areas is the shortage of bicycles.
Take the ancient capital of Beijing, for example—it is filled with beautiful scenery and historical relics at every turn. To truly appreciate these sights and artifacts, simply taking a bus tour or listening to a guide’s brief commentary is far from satisfying; cycling is undoubtedly the best way. Last July, Beijing announced ten of the best cycling routes. Reporters noted that these routes feature either rich historical culture or stunning natural landscapes, offering cyclists a wealth of options.
However, despite the introduction of these cycling routes, they have not been widely embraced by tourists. Tourist Mr. Zhou said he would love to experience the imperial aura and hutong culture of old Beijing by bike, “But there are no places to rent bikes near the scenic spots. Before I came, I learned that Beijing’s bike rental spots are mostly in Dongcheng and Chaoyang districts, and most are only available to residents with Beijing hukou who also need to apply for a Beijing Municipal Administration and Communications Card. I’m only staying in Beijing for a week at most—dealing with all that paperwork is just too troublesome.” In the end, Zhou said, “For convenience, I chose to take the bus instead.”
Reporters learned that in China, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, particularly around West Lake, has a relatively well-developed cycling tourism scene. In May this year, Hangzhou officially released a Public Bicycle Cycling Route Guide tailored for cycling enthusiasts. Residents and tourists can pick up these guides for free at public bicycle tourism information centers near West Lake. On one cycling guide for the “Shidaizhilu Along Qianjiang New Town,” reporters saw that within just 8 kilometers from Qiantang River Bridge No. 1 to No. 3, there are 32 bike rental stations, averaging one every 250 meters—a high density that effectively meets tourists’ cycling needs.
An industry insider noted that cycling routes that combine beautiful scenery with convenient bike access are the ones that truly appeal to tourists.
Professional cycling requires safety awareness.
“Compared to leisure cycling, professional long-distance cycling above all requires a strong sense of safety. I’ve always believed that safety awareness is more important than equipment,” said veteran cyclist Haike, who has over a decade of riding experience. He explained that cycling safety involves both personal safety and bike safety—both are equally critical.
Haike further explained to reporters that cycling involves many techniques, such as how to control speed on steep descents, how to brake on curves without falling, and how to maintain a safe distance when riding in a group. Especially for solo riders, apart from paying attention to traffic safety, they must also guard against potential attacks by malicious individuals, animals, or even wildlife. “These situations may not always occur, but the awareness to prevent them must be in place—otherwise, if they do happen, the consequences can be severe,” Haike said.
When discussing bike safety, Haike pointed out that many cyclists overlook this aspect, yet incidents like the recent case of a Japanese tourist losing their bike while cycling in Wuhan, Hubei Province, are not uncommon. Therefore, enhancing safety awareness is essential. For example, when staying at a hotel, cyclists should try to keep their bikes in their rooms. If that’s not possible, they should store them in supervised areas or the hotel’s designated lobby and lock them securely. Additionally, cyclists should keep an eye on small bike accessories, such as taillights and cyclometers—losing these can also dampen the mood. Haike also reminded cyclists to avoid letting non-professionals ride their bikes, as they often don’t know how to operate specialized bicycles, and their riding habits and posture differ from those of experienced cyclists, which can damage the bike.
Urban cycling lacks roads, scenic cycling lacks bikes, and professional cycling lacks safety awareness. Although some of these issues are beyond cyclists’ control, safety should always remain the top priority.