Bicycles need more than parking lots

The parking lot for bicycles near China World Trade Center was closed recently, causing inconvenience to many people. Cities should have specified parking lots for the common people, says an article in Jinghua Times. Excerpts:

Parking bicycles has always been a problem for people in Beijing, and the closure of a giant parking lot near China World Trade Center has made things worse. The development is surprising because the parking lot was supposed to be part of the city's municipal plan.

Beijing's construction rules have not been without problems. First, they show scant respect to people's convenience. Many people will now have to leave their bicycles at home and commute to work by other means because there is no other big parking lot in the area. Some administrative departments have said they would persuade the managements of nearby buildings to open their underground parking lot for bicycles. But why was this not done before the giant parking lot was closed?

Travelling by bicycle is healthier and eco-friendly. It reduces the city's carbon footprint, too. Many people used the China World Trade Center (Guomao) subway station as a transfer point by riding their bicycles up to there and then changing to a bus or train to travel further. Many others parked their bicycles there and just walked the rest of the distance to work. So the departments responsible for opening and running parking lots should open another one nearby as soon as possible.

The city needs new buildings, but people should be consulted before a decision is taken. As one of the most convenient means of transport for common people, bicycles need more than a parking lot in the city.

(China Daily 01/20/2010 page9)