CHENGDU - In a bid to curb environmental pollution, the Wenjiang district of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, is encouraging its government workers to ride bicycles.

The district government has got bicycles for its employees in the district compound. Everybody can apply to get one and use it when they handle official business.

Since the district advocated the use of the green vehicle on July 1, 2,388 people, accounting for half the district government employees, have applied for bicycles, according to Chen Qizhou, chief of the Wenjiang district Government Office Administration.