Beijing opens its first bikeway today

Cyclists bike on the first bicycle-only lane near Longze subway station in Beijing, May 31, 2019. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)

Beijing opened its first bicycle-only road at 7 am Friday morning, which is expected to ease traffic in the area between Huilongguan, a densely populated community, and Shangdi, where a large number of hi-tech companies are located, in northern Beijing.

An average of 11,600 people commute to work daily in the area.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, the 6.5-kilometer-long road has a maximum speed of no more than 15 kilometers per hour and pedestrians, electric bicycles and other vehicles are forbidden to enter the road.

As per the authority, there are three lanes, including a reversible lane, on the six-meter-wide road.

$Bike parking equipment is seen nearby Longze subway station in Beijing, May 31, 2019. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)\' Conveyor belts for bikes and other power assisting devices are installed at entrances and exits of the road to provide convenience and ensure safety. It takes around 30 minutes on average for commuters to cycle from Huilongguan residential area to software park in Shangdi. Due to heavy traffic, it takes more than 40 minutes and even one hour to commute by subway in rush hours. Beijing has many designated lanes for bicycles. However, cars are increasingly encroaching, and they are often crowded with parked cars. Beijing has over 1.9 million shared bikes, and over 1,014 kilometers of lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. By 2020, the figure will reach 3,200 km, according to the commission.$

Bike parking equipment is seen nearby Longze subway station in Beijing, May 31, 2019. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)'

Conveyor belts for bikes and other power assisting devices are installed at entrances and exits of the road to provide convenience and ensure safety.

It takes around 30 minutes on average for commuters to cycle from Huilongguan residential area to software park in Shangdi.

Due to heavy traffic, it takes more than 40 minutes and even one hour to commute by subway in rush hours.

Beijing has many designated lanes for bicycles. However, cars are increasingly encroaching, and they are often crowded with parked cars.

Beijing has over 1.9 million shared bikes, and over 1,014 kilometers of lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. By 2020, the figure will reach 3,200 km, according to the commission.