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November 17, 2006
The foreign lady in the Beijing bike lane 
I have been completely buried under between work and school and my ever-changing moods, so if you've seen this, sorry. However, it's a great story.
It appears some roads in Beijing have a dedicated, separate, bike lane. And it appears cars try to use those bike lanes to get around traffic. Somebody took that whole partying at the literal bar too serious, and actually thought that bike lanes were, gasp, for bikes. Crazy!
I love this story, with lots of pictures. Go, foreign lady!
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20061027_1.htm
Posted at November 17, 2006
Comments
You mean that lane with the outline of a cyclist in it? I thought it was where people parked...or a turn lane...or where you tossed your beer bottles. At least, that's what it gets used for around here.
Posted by: Misty at November 17, 2006 1:46 PM
What strikes me is the Chinese people's reaction to the incident. According to the zonaeuropa story, there was a huge outpouring of indignation on behalf of the cyclist. The driver apologized on television, even though traffic police testified that the lane in question was actually a mixed traffic lane and not a dedicated bike lane as the cyclist had apparently assumed. When I contrast this with the likely outcome had the incident occurred in the U.S. (c.f. the Portland bus passenger who punched the cyclist: http://bikeportland.org/2006/11/09/decision-reached-in-albright-vs-trimet/ ), I am awed and humbled.
Posted by: alaraca at November 17, 2006 6:00 PM