Of the 10 lanes on Chang'an, the Avenue of Peace that bisects the central city from east to west, only a single lane in either direction is reserved for bicycles for much of its length. Even then, turning vehicles and taxis are prone to sneak along bicycle lanes. In some places, cyclists jostle for position with buses as their lane disappears. The results are fatal. A recent analysis suggests about a third of the 83,000 killed on China's roads annually are cyclists.
Bicycle helmets are a rarity on Beijing's streets.
Private car ownership has rocketed in China in the past 20 years. In 1980, there were only a handful of privately owned vehicles among the taxis and buses that plied the streets. Sales are booming. But costs remain a barrier. The official Xinhua news agency said this week the capital would build 400 kilometres of expressways over the next five years, tripling the total length of expressways circling and crossing the city.