Zhang Qiang started a new career early this year - renting out
bicycles at Beijing's Drum Tower.
"I am making a contribution to the green Olympic Games, as my work helps improve
Beijing's traffic and air," said the 40-something Zhang.
It is not an exaggeration, as 20 of his bikes are rented daily
by tourists from home and abroad. Half of his clients are Western
tourists who "can easily accept this idea and enjoy cycling", he
added.
Zhang's effort is part of an expanding bike rental network in
Beijing. To embrace next year's Olympic Games, the local government
and people are working on a range of measures to ease congestion
and curb pollution in a city with three million motor vehicles and
more than four million drivers.
Wang Yong, president of the Beijing Bike Rental Co, is working
hard to encourage the concept. Wang started his business two years
ago and his company now supplies 5,000 bikes at 32 outlets close to
subway stations, commercial districts, Olympic venues, hotels and
office buildings.
Late last month, he even persuaded the Beijing Hotel, which will
serve as the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), to approve a bike-rental station in its parking lot.
Sources close to the company said that outlet reflects the fact
that "the local authority encourages the use of bike."
But the effort is not that easy.
"To rent rather than buy a bike is still a new idea for most
Chinese and most of us are struggling to own our first car," Wang
said.
But "for the good of our health, we should change our ideas and
learn a new living style which is green and environmentally
friendly", he says.
To Wang's surprise, rentals by foreign clients comprise 50
percent of the company's turnover.
Sabine Niehaus, a salesman from Germany, applauds the trend.
"A bike is a very good choice for tours. It can take you
anywhere you want," she said.
According Wang, customers pick up a bike at one of the firm's
rental stations, leave a 400-yuan ($53) credit card deposit, and
pedal away.
When they are finished, they drop it off at the nearest rental
station and their deposit is returned.
(China Daily October 6, 2007)
