Dedicated bike lane raises hopes for easier commute

Beijing's first dedicated bike lane will open this month to connect a northern residential area of the city to the high-tech business sector. It will also help ease traffic congestion, local authorities said on Thursday.

The 6.5-kilometer lane has barriers to prevent vehicles from entering, as well as sections running over and under major highways to help ensure the free flow of cyclists.

Wang Qiang, deputy director of the city's development and reform commission, said it was the first bicycle lane in the country built for people cycling to work.

He said at a news conference that it would also help young professionals embrace a green lifestyle via cycling.

"The cycling lane saves commuting costs and encourages young people working in the IT industry to travel in a green way," he said.

The 6-meter-wide lane is designed to allow cyclists to travel at an average speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

It will connect the Huilongguan community in Changping district, known for its affordable housing, with the Shangdi area of Haidian district, where many large technology companies are located. The lane crosses expressways via overpasses and tunnels.

Approximately 370,000 residents have homes in Huilongguan but work in Haidian. Up to 20 percent of these residents work in Zhongguancun Science Park in Haidian, and 16 percent in the Shangdi area.

Normally, the workers need to wake up early to beat congested public transportation during rush hours.

Starting near the Huilongguan subway station on Line 13, the bicycle lane ends near the Xierqi station, where internet giants such as Baidu and Tencent are located.

There are eight entrances and exits to make the path accessible to riders, according to city officials.

Chen Chunyu, the designer of the bike lane, said conveyor belts had been installed on the entrance and exits ramps of elevated sections to assist cyclists.

The system borrows technology from the Netherlands, she said.

Electric vehicles are forbidden in the lane as the 20 km/h speed limit had already been set, Chen said.

Xiamen, Fujian province, built the country's first elevated bicycle lane for tourists to better enjoy ocean views. The pathway opened to the public at the beginning of 2017.

Chen Xiliang, a 25-year-old worker in advertising research and development at Baidu, said he was tired of squeezing into the subway every day.

"I have decided to cycle to work two or three days a week instead of using public transportation once the bike lane is completed," he said. "I believe it will get my body in better shape and make me much happier every day at work."