Bumping Around the City

A funny thing happened mid-bike ride yesterday. After riding at a quick pace, I paused at the entrance to a subway station to meet a friend. While waiting, I caught sight of a Chinese girl staring at me as she rode up on her bike. She dismounted and walked her bike towards the subway entrance, straight up to me. This was our conversation, mixed Chinese and English:

Her (Chinese): Where are you going?

Me (Chinese): I’m going to exercise.

Her (English): Why are you here?

Me (Chinese): I am a teacher.

Her (Chinese) Where do you live?

Me (Chinese): I live over there (pointing) near Nanjing University.

Her (English): Oh…you ride so fast!

This random happening inspired me to write a bit more about China bikes, something of a trademark of this country.

Most Chinese two-wheel drivers ride along at a leisurely pace, but I move to burn those calories and make the heart pump! But the locals don’t seem to be in a hurry and I think they don’t want to get sweaty before they arrive where they are destined. Even mopeds don’t usually go along at a fast pace, even though they easily could with the motor power. I often pass moped and scooter drivers just pedaling on my bike!

Number-wise, I think I see more mopeds that good ol’ human powered bicycles. This is, of course, in a wealthier part of the city in a wealthier city to begin with. I’m sure mopeds aren’t as popular further away from the big city centers.

Something else here that I did not see in Thailand or Vietnam: adult tricycles. These are quite popular here, not as a mode of transport of people, but of materials and supplies. Many workers cart around on tricycles with a storage cart built in, and they load those carts up heavy!

I have an excellent, theft-proof bike. It is red, fast, has a basket for carrying small items, and was the most popular bike in China (10 or 15 years ago!). Since it is so old and rusted, and fairly ugly, no one will ever steal my bike! That’s important, because I know several people who have had their bikes disappear from the street-side parking, even though the bikes were locked.

I really enjoy the convenience and freedom of whipping around town on my bike, and I like the different viewpoint it gives me other than what I see just riding along in buses or taxis. But that’s a further conversation or blog-post for another day!