Home>News Center>China
       
 

Thousands return to pedal power
By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-08-02 09:04

GUANGZHOU: Tens of thousands of residents in the capital of South China's Guangdong Province are getting back on their bikes.

They are turning to pedal power again as the city plans to phase out its 320,000 motorcycles by the end of 2006, which are seen as the cause of pollution and frequent traffic jams.

Instead of turning to automobiles, still regarded as a luxury by low-income residents, which make up the majority of the city's population, many tend to use bicycles as their means of getting from A to B.

Chen Guohua, an assistant manager of a local advertisement company, began going to work by bike a month ago.

He stopped using his motorbike last month after the city's decision to phase them out.

"Now I am becoming used to riding the bicycle to work," said Chen.

Motorbikes have been banned in the non-rush hour period starting from May 1 in some of the city's major roads and downtown areas.

The ban is expected to extend to every corner of the city by 2007, according to the municipal government.

Guangzhou used to be a city that made and used lots of bikes until the mid-1980s.

But, as people have become increasingly prosperous, they have tended not to use bicycles.

But now the motorbike ban has led to a huge increase in bicycle sales in the city.

"A bicycle costs much less than a car, and it is a very convenient commuting means," said Xiao Chen, a local motorcyclist before the ban.

Li Xianhan, sales manager of Guangzhou-based Dibik Bicycle Company, said his company saw a steady increase in sales over the past few months.

"In March, about 700-800 bicycles were sold, but more than 1,000 bicycles were sold in April," said Li.

"The sales volume is expected to achieve a steady increase following the banning of motorcycles in the city," Li told China Daily.

Qin Mingsheng, sales manager of Guangzhou-based Five Rams Bicycle Company, said the company's sales agents now tend to pay back money to the company before sales.

"However, the agents used to pay back after sales, because few people tended to buy bikes until a few months ago," Qian said.

At the same time, many local residents, including students and workers, bought their bicycles in the second-hand bicycle market, or the so-called "black market."

Second-hand bicycles, which are often stolen from their original owners and sold at the "black market," cost no more than 100 yuan (US$12), less expensive than new ones.

Local experts and officials have warned residents not to buy such stolen bikes, to help curb thefts.

However, Ou Qiang, who was a motorcyclist before the ban, went to a motor market last week, hoping to buy a cheap car.



 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

'Hospitals on wheels' to offer farmers health care

 

   
 

Report: 274 dead in Paraguay market fire

 

   
 

PLA vows to crush Taiwan separatism

 

   
 

Hong Kong cheers first garrison parade

 

   
 

WTO deal on farm products welcomed

 

   
 

US warns of terrorist threat to financial icons

 

   
  Defence minister: Army to smash any independence plot
   
  PLA HK garrison holds military parade
   
  Guangdong non-State sector sees fast growth
   
  British Army uniforms to be made in China
   
  Foreign banks share RMB profits
   
  War against porn website in full swing
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  When will china have direct elections?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 精品人妻VA出轨中文字幕| 99久久免费国产精品| 校花被折磨阴部流水| 亚洲精品无码专区在线在线播放| 精品永久久福利一区二区| 国产又污又爽又色的网站| 91在线精品中文字幕| 男女生差差差很痛的app| 国产亚洲美女精品久久久2020| 1300部小u女视频大全合集 | 免费成人一级片| 色婷婷激情综合| 国产国语一级毛片全部| 日本xxxxx在线观看| 国产精品麻豆入口| 99热久久这里只精品国产www| 小东西怎么流这么多水怎么办| 中文字幕在线观看2020| 日本另类z0zx| 好男人www.| 久久精品国产亚洲AV蜜臀色欲| 欧美一级做a影片爱橙影院| 亚洲日韩欧洲无码av夜夜摸| 渣男和渣女做不干净事情视频| 免费福利在线观看| 精品爆乳一区二区三区无码AV | 国产剧情av麻豆香蕉精品| 日本在线高清视频| 国产精品无码V在线观看| 91高清免费国产自产拍2021| 天堂√在线中文官网在线| yy6080欧美三级理论| 快播电影网日韩新片| 中国体育生gary飞机| 无码成人AAAAA毛片| 久久久久一区二区三区| 日本高清有码视频| 久久综合桃花网| 最新国产精品拍自在线播放| 亚洲av日韩精品久久久久久久| 欧美怡红院成免费人忱友;|