Beijing on track to become cycling city

Beijing has been building cycling lanes in major green spaces in suburban and outskirt city areas since 2015, and the construction of a 6.5-kilometer cycling road is reported to begin this September in the northwest part of the city.

Tian Changbo, chairman of the Beijing cycling league and the Beijing sport and recreational industry association, said the league is doing its part to get all potential participants into action to promote cycling as a lifestyle during the 13 China Ski Industry Forum in Chongli, Zhangjiakou on Friday.

Founded in 2016, the league has gathered 45 cycling clubs and 44 colleges with 195,000 cyclists in the city. Each of the universities boasts an over-100 strong cycling team to take part in the city college league.

According to Tian, the league is targeting another group of white collar employees in the city's CBD and high-tech zones like Guomao and Zhongguancun to promote the healthy lifestyle.

China is now home to 15 million cyclists, up from 6 million in 2015, but only a small fraction compared to the 1.3 billion total population. World cycling powerhouse Netherland boasts an 80 percent cycling population, and France 70. 17 in 100 Chinese people own a bicycle, while the number for its Asian neighbor Japan is 27, according to Tian.

Tian said fewer cycling roads and poor promotion of green transportation are to be blamed for the small cycling population. Education on the cycling lifestyle is the next step, after people have already taken up cycling as a type of fitness.

To compete and to be fit are not the aim of sport, but a means to the aim of pursuing a meaningful and valuable life, Tian said.