Wheel world: global cycle schemes
October 30, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IN recent years, more and more countries and cities have begun to realize the importance of using bicycles to ease the problems caused by heavy traffic in urban areas. Free public bicycle schemes like the one that exists in Minhang are a good option - but it's not the only one. When it comes to promoting the use of the bicycle around the world, ideas and measures differ greatly.
Seoul
Generally, each family in Seoul has one or two private cars. Since the terrain of the city is varied and includes hilly areas, most people travel by cars or public transport.
However, in the near future, there will be a third choice for the people of Seoul - the bicycle. The President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak is now making efforts to make bicycle riding the "green lifestyle" of Korean. In April 2009, the government decided to spend about US$900 million dollars (6,000 million yuan) building cycle routes, aiming to make Korea a "bike paradise." The government hopes that such a zero-pollution vehicle will become the majority choice of transport in the future. According to the policy, if a citizen goes to work by bike for more than seven days in a month, he or she will get a reward of three thousand Korean won (US$2.70).
According to Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, a 24km circular cycle path around the city center will be finished by 2011, and a 38km path around the countryside will be completed by 2014. There will also be special bike paths on the main roads of the city built before 2012.
Washington
Since 2008, there have been new metal frames appearing near crossroad sections of the city center of Washington, which are used for the "Smart Bike" system and makes Washington the first city in the United States with a computerized bike-renting system. There are actually 120 red bikes with three-speed gears available for customers to rent and ride around the city.
The rules of bike renting are pretty simple. The rider can rent a bike for a maximum of three hours each time, and by paying US$40 the user can rent a bicycle as many times as they like for an entire year. The bikes look like a combination of a folding bicycle and the BMX, with a metal basket at the front. Such a design is, of course, not for cycling competitions, but for the convenience of lunch, dating, working and traveling.
Riders can get a bike from the docking frame with a magnetic stripe card, and can return it to any other frames. Renting hours are from 6am to 10pm. If the rider fails to return the bike in time, he or she will be fined US$200.
Copenhagen
Located in the north of Europe, Denmark has a population of five million people and owns more than four million bicycles. In the capital Copenhagen, 60 percent of citizens go to work by bike. It took the city 20 years to construct more than 300km of cycle lanes and there's even an express bike lane with no red traffic lights between the city center and the railway station. Every day more than 30,000 rides are made on this lane.
To guarantee the safety of bike riders, the government strictly forbids other road vehicles from driving on the bike path. The government also allocates official bikes to staff for work use, reducing the use of automobiles to save energy as well as relieve traffic congestion.
Seoul
Generally, each family in Seoul has one or two private cars. Since the terrain of the city is varied and includes hilly areas, most people travel by cars or public transport.
However, in the near future, there will be a third choice for the people of Seoul - the bicycle. The President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak is now making efforts to make bicycle riding the "green lifestyle" of Korean. In April 2009, the government decided to spend about US$900 million dollars (6,000 million yuan) building cycle routes, aiming to make Korea a "bike paradise." The government hopes that such a zero-pollution vehicle will become the majority choice of transport in the future. According to the policy, if a citizen goes to work by bike for more than seven days in a month, he or she will get a reward of three thousand Korean won (US$2.70).
According to Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, a 24km circular cycle path around the city center will be finished by 2011, and a 38km path around the countryside will be completed by 2014. There will also be special bike paths on the main roads of the city built before 2012.
Washington
Since 2008, there have been new metal frames appearing near crossroad sections of the city center of Washington, which are used for the "Smart Bike" system and makes Washington the first city in the United States with a computerized bike-renting system. There are actually 120 red bikes with three-speed gears available for customers to rent and ride around the city.
The rules of bike renting are pretty simple. The rider can rent a bike for a maximum of three hours each time, and by paying US$40 the user can rent a bicycle as many times as they like for an entire year. The bikes look like a combination of a folding bicycle and the BMX, with a metal basket at the front. Such a design is, of course, not for cycling competitions, but for the convenience of lunch, dating, working and traveling.
Riders can get a bike from the docking frame with a magnetic stripe card, and can return it to any other frames. Renting hours are from 6am to 10pm. If the rider fails to return the bike in time, he or she will be fined US$200.
Copenhagen
Located in the north of Europe, Denmark has a population of five million people and owns more than four million bicycles. In the capital Copenhagen, 60 percent of citizens go to work by bike. It took the city 20 years to construct more than 300km of cycle lanes and there's even an express bike lane with no red traffic lights between the city center and the railway station. Every day more than 30,000 rides are made on this lane.
To guarantee the safety of bike riders, the government strictly forbids other road vehicles from driving on the bike path. The government also allocates official bikes to staff for work use, reducing the use of automobiles to save energy as well as relieve traffic congestion.
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