Bicycles Helped China to Become the Land of Cars

VLADIVOSTOK. October 5. VOSTOK-MEDIA – In the 1980s, the number of bicycles in the largest cities of China was about 500 mln. The former US President George W. Bush once recalled that “the bicycle in China is omnipresent. It is used for physical exercise, transport children, deliver cargoes and mail. Even the police cycled to chase criminals”. The bike was one of the three main fixtures in the wedding ceremony. It was issued free to public servants.

After privet cars become ingrained in the everyday life of Chinese citizens the era of bicycles ended. In 2006, however, the Ministry of Construction of China called for keeping a certain amount of bikes in order to solve the urban transportation problems and boost environmental protection. The bicycle became a silent witness of the Chinese breaking from bonds of poverty and striving for prosperity.

In the past, China was a “land of bicycles” for foreigners. But the present-day China is the largest car market in the world. Since its foundation 60 years ago China has been rapidly developing to become “the land of cars”. The car changed China. In recent years China has seen considerable urbanization and rising of the living standards.