Cyclists feeling squeezed in business district
By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-18 09:03
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Cyclists were confused yesterday after authorities closed the only bike parking near Guomao in the Central Business District (CBD).
The 900-slot low-rate bike parking space, operating for at least six years under Guomao Bridge, was forced to close for a "landscape revamp" on the direction of operators Golden Bridge.
Ironically, the move came after the municipal government announced plans last month to change traffic rules in favor of cyclists and said it would boost bike rental services this year as part of a long-term strategy to ease traffic jams citywide by promoting more cycling.
But authorities defended the move yesterday, saying the closure was temporary and insisting replacement parking would soon be available - although they gave no details.
The area is home to thousands of companies and is centered around the landmark China World Trade Center. Many employees make their way to work each day by bicycle or transfer onto the subway after cycling into the area.
"Do they have to close us down now?" muttered 39-year-old Zhao Hongfang, who now looks after the nearly empty site.
"All of the employees don't know what to do with their bikes and we will lose our jobs without the parking lot," she told METRO.
Zhao, a migrant worker from Anhui province, earned about 3,500 yuan a month looking after the site along with her husband. The facility was used by around 500 cyclists each day. The couple is now busy calling up bike owners who have not picked up their cycles from the emptying site.
A World Trade Center office cleaner, surnamed Ma, looked frustrated yesterday when she learned she could no longer use the parking site.
"How am I supposed to go to work from now on?" the elderly woman asked. She cycles three kilometers each day from Jinsong, south of her workplace.
Cyclists are not the only group affected by the revamp of the cycle park. A car park nearby with space for around 150 cars has been closed since Saturday, traffic inspectors confirmed. Only two SUVs from a nearby company were parked in the site yesterday.
A traffic inspector said the CBD's administration committee was reorganizing parking in the area.
Wang Qingfeng, director of the planning division of the administration, confirmed that changes were underway.
"The campaign is ongoing. We ask for understanding from the public while we work on a replacement for the removed parking space," he said. He said underground space in nearby office buildings may be opened up to cyclists and car owners.
Beijing News reported yesterday that one-third of underground parking space in the CBD is regularly unused. Authorities have said underground roadways and new lanes for motor scooters, as well as multiple subway terminals, could be some of the ways to ease congestion.