Tekst en foto’s: Alex van Egmond

When I first arrived in Beijing, now more than three years ago, I had never imagined myself riding a bicycle in this city. Mostly because of the ominous number of people and cars that are bustling around. For example, the number of car owners in Beijing reached over six million last year, creating a wonderful mess on the roads, especially during rush hour. Official statistics for China in 2010 say 65.200 people lost their lives on the road. The death rate in accidents is 5.5 times higher than the USA, where, compared to China, there are forty percent more cars. However, the Chinese nation is catching up fast; the number of private car owners has grown immensely in the past two decades for the car has become a symbol of wealth. Given these statistics, I must admit, it sounds like suicide to go out on the road. Nonetheless, being far from suicidal, I will list some helpful tips to make your cycling experience more safe.
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