September 22 is World Car Free Day, which aims to strengthen people's environmental awareness by limiting the use of private cars and promoting cycling or walking.
Nowadays, many people have also shifted the way of leisure, entertainment and even fitness from the original indoors to the outdoors, which makes bicycles that can both travel and exercise become "fashionable items" again.
Urban cycling, mountain cross-country, more and more cycling enthusiasts appear in the streets and alleys, becoming a beautiful scenery.
Beijing: New Shougang Bridge has become a popular check-in place for cycling
Every morning, a flowing landscape appears on the Xinshougang Bridge in Beijing. Cyclists pass by every few moments on the bicycle lanes separated by fences.
A cyclist told reporters that this is one of the most popular cycling check-in places in Beijing this year.
Beijing cycling enthusiasts: find happiness in cycling, which is a way of exercising.
Our Beijing is so beautiful and the roads are so good, you can enjoy a lot of beautiful scenery by riding.
More than 100 million people in the country regularly ride bicycles
According to data from the China Cycling Association, more than 100 million people in the country regularly ride bicycles or use bicycles as means of transportation, and nearly 10 million people participate in cycling.
Riding a shared bicycle is also a low-carbon mode of travel for many people.
Mr. Zhou, a citizen of Shenzhen: I usually sit in the office to go to work, and riding a shared bicycle can exercise by the way. This method is a good way to support green travel. Many colleagues and friends in the surrounding area will also prefer this method when they travel.
From travel to outdoor fitness cycling, the connotation gradually expands
Nowadays, cycling is not only required for commuting, but also a mass fitness activity with social attributes.
Cycling enthusiasts have a wide age range and are spread across the country.
Feng Baozhong, Vice Chairman of China Cycling Association: People choose to go outdoors more, and cycling to improve their health is also a green way to travel. Cycling is now slowly expanding its connotation on the basis of travel methods. It is still a kind of Fashion, a kind of communication, a kind of exploration, appreciation and fusion of the city.
Cycling + socializing has become a new fashion for exploring the city
Make an appointment with a group of cyclists, come for a city breakfast ride, and at 6:30 in the morning, group a group to have breakfast, just to ride a bike together and feel the unique charm of cycling.
Cycling enthusiasts' circumference: During the process of riding, all the facial features are opened. You need to listen to the sound and smell the smell.
Chen Jie, a cycling enthusiast: I can clearly feel the soft feeling of the wind blowing around you.
Cycling enthusiast Zhang Hanwen: It is still a good aerobic exercise.
Cycling enthusiast Wen Wen: The biggest feeling is freedom, because this "breaking wind" feeling is unmatched by any sports.
Riding at the right time can be fun and troublesome
As cycling gets hotter, the memories of many people chasing each other on the bike lane and watching the scenery along the way are remembered again when they were young.
Even if there are no professional bicycles, many people are willing to use shared bicycles as their green travel choice.
But while enjoying the ride, some troubles on the road still exist.
Trouble 1: Non-motorized lanes are crowded or too narrow
Taking road infrastructure as an example, at present, most road plans with motor vehicles as the mainstay are not friendly to cyclists, motor vehicle drivers do not have the habit of turning right to drive non-motor vehicles, non-motor vehicle lanes are crowded, and electric vehicles are increasing. All factors affect the safety of cyclists.
Cheng Shidong, director of the Urban Transportation Center of the Comprehensive Transportation Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission: The most important thing is to let the common people have a way to go.
Including when the bicycle lane is at the intersection, because there may be more of a motor vehicle lane, the bicycle lane will be narrower, and there will also be a lot of bicycle lanes occupied by this car parking, so say I think this aspect needs to be further strengthened.
Trouble 2: Difficult and random parking of non-motor vehicles
Some roads do not have enough parking space for non-motor vehicles, resulting in no place to park bicycles and shared bicycles.
On some urban ring roads and right-turn lanes, shared bicycles that are parked at random can be seen everywhere, which also affects the travel of more people.
Cheng Shidong, director of the Urban Transportation Center of the Comprehensive Transportation Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission: For example, under our office buildings, our office buildings, and our residential quarters, the most convenient places should be reserved for bicycles, not cars. If it is more convenient for people to park, they will travel more by bicycle.
Trouble 3: Uncivilized riding behavior happens from time to time
As the number of people participating in cycling continues to rise, uncivilized cycling behaviors such as speeding and retrograde have also caused controversy and even brought safety risks.
Beijing cycling enthusiasts: some people who go against the road in the city, electric vehicles go against the road, pedestrians go on the bicycle-only road, many people in pursuit of speed, they may choose to run red lights from 3:00 to 4:00 in the morning, to create this speed, the highest It is very dangerous to ride at a speed of more than 60 kilometers per hour.
Experts say that only by obeying traffic rules can participants experience the fun of sports more on the premise of ensuring safety.
Feng Baozhong, Vice Chairman of China Cycling Association: We have always advocated safe, civilized and scientific riding.
We call on the majority of cycling enthusiasts, first, not to run red lights, and second not to compete with motor vehicles for the road, and advocate everyone to wear helmets, be courteous to pedestrians, and be courteous to the elderly and children.
Cycling is just right when urban planning keeps up?
In fact, to protect everyone's riding enthusiasm, it is also necessary to improve the urban slow-moving system and create a more friendly urban riding environment.
So, what measures have been taken in this regard?
Has it brought about real change?
Beijing: All roads above 12 meters in the Fifth Ring Road will be marked with bicycle lanes
On September 22, the reporter learned from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Communications that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, all roads with a road width of 12 meters or more within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road will be marked with bicycle lanes. On roads mixed with motor vehicles, all bicycle priority signs are added.
In addition, Beijing will build a 396.8-kilometer waterfront slow-moving system; build trails, bicycle paths or bicycle-only roads along multiple rivers; and create 20 characteristic cultural tourism cycling routes in the central urban area and sub-centers of the city.
A series of measures will create a more convenient environment for cycling.
Encourage environmentally friendly travel to open up dedicated roads for cycling
With the popularity of shared bicycles and the return of cycling, more and more cities have opened up dedicated roads for cycling, encouraging citizens to choose a more environmentally friendly way of travel.
In Changping District, Beijing, the country's first bicycle-only road with a total length of 6.5 kilometers is closed throughout the whole process, without traffic lights, and equipped with traffic lights and other facilities. punch card".
In Taiyuan, the riverside bicycle lane runs through the north-south axis of Taiyuan City and becomes a new local landmark.
In Jimei District, Xiamen, Fujian, a 2.6-kilometer-long Xinglin Bay water bike path is known as "the most beautiful sea bike path in Xiamen".
This scenic cycling trail is entirely on the water and attracts many people to experience it.
Tourist: I came here with my family to experience it. Whether it is green vegetation, air bike path or sea bike path, the air here is also very good, and the mood is also very good.
Build a city park and enjoy the view while cycling
In addition, many city parks for cycling have been built around the country.
In Beijing Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park, there is a comprehensive walking and cycling trail that runs down the Grand Canal, where cyclists can enjoy the riverside scenery while cycling.
In Chengdu, the 100-kilometer Huancheng Ecological Park around the city is currently the largest urban park in the world.
Wider non-motorized vehicle lanes make urban riding more friendly
In addition, urban roads are changing for cyclists.
The reporter found that the non-motorized vehicle lanes on Beijing's Second Ring Road are "quietly" widening.
At the same time, some intersections have also added signs such as "left-turn signal light" and "bicycle priority" for exclusive cyclists in the setting of signal lights.
Beijing citizens: There is a turn signal specially designed for bicycles, which is very good.
It used to have to wait for two traffic lights each time, but now it takes less time than before, which is more convenient.
Expert: Encouraging cycling requires leading from urban planning
Experts suggest that in the future, in order to make the people's enthusiasm for cycling continue, more cities need to continuously strengthen the humanized design in the planning.
Feng Baozhong, Vice Chairman of China Cycling Association: Continue to transform non-motorized roads and increase the width of non-motorized roads. From urban planning, we should start to lead and follow up on construction, so as to provide more favorable conditions for cycling enthusiasts and guarantee.