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. Bicycles are forbidden on these roads. There are other signs of bicycle denial. Not one frame of the heralded short film about Beijing shot by celebrated director Zhang Yimou as part of the city's 2008 Olympics bid captures a bicycle. Bicycles are also being stolen.
Theft is rampant and goes largely unpunished.
But there are those who say the bicycle's days are not numbered. The bicycle market is very stable. The transport facilities are improving in Beijing as it becomes an international city. But we don't hear many complaints about traffic restrictions.