Car Sharing and Bike Riding in China

Car Sharing grew its popularity largely due to the car rationing during 2008 Olympic Games. In order to keep the air pollution level low in the city as promised in the application for the Olympics Games, the government had to carry out the "Odd-even Rationing” to limit the number of cars.

People who wanted to drive to Beijing for watching the games or to work then came up with this idea to drive together (share a car) with one other person which has the alternative car plate ending number on alternative days. Ever since then Car Sharing has become more common among the daily commuters.

In bigger cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, it developed as an alternative way for daily commuting. Drivers look for neighbours who want to travel to similar destination to work or the other way round.

Apart from posting notices looking for driver or travel partners in the neighbourhood, more and more online forums were established to provide a platform for the idea. For instances:
www.58.com/pinche
www.carhappy.com.cn
sh.ganji.com

During holidays especially the Spring Festival, it becomes a main mean of transportation for them as it avoids the hustle and bustle of the long lining-up for train tickets or getting packed with crowds. That's how strangers become regular co-travelers.

Yet, problems like unlicensed operation of "taxi" (black taxi) emerged which made the government still reluctant to legalize the activity of car sharing despite its popularity and advantages for the city.

Many argued that the government should be prompt to move a step forward in promoting this idea but not giving penalties to the drivers if they are found charging the passengers fuel costs.

Personal safety is also a concern for the car-sharers and drivers. It has yet to be improved by exchanging more information with each other and perhaps includes also signing a paper to secure both sides.

Shanghai, one of the cities that suffered from heavy traffic congestion, seeks to take the car sharing model of Bremen displayed by Germany in the World Expo 2010 as an example to ease the problem by setting up car rental companies offering services for non-car owners to drive and share with others.

It is expected hoped that the interest of people to purchase cars would be lowered hence alleviates the congestion and environmental problems.

Apart from Car Sharing, which seems to be the best alternative for those who travel rather long distance to work daily, riding bikes would doubtlessly be the best solution for those living inside the city. Beijing was once the biggest city in term of bikes but then in the past decade they were largely replaced by cars which were getting ever cheaper.

Now in Beijing it sees a ‘revival’ of bike-riding as a sound increase of bike number was witnessed. Instead of taking public transportation, some citizens have already turned to riding bikes to work, to shop and to pick up children.

Problems bikers in Beijing face now include the lack of bike parking lot with proper management and the occupancy of bike routes by cars.

If the government is determined to make the country a “greener” place, more user-friendly facilities ought to be built for these green supporters.

Articles:

New car-sharing model inspired by Bremen hopefully could help alleviate traffic jam in Shanghai

Penalties for drivers who charge the car-sharers for fuel costs

Examples of car sharing during to Beijing Olympics rationing in 2008

Platform: discussion about whether road rationing should still be force or not

Chao Zhou: “Salarymen” now ride bike to work instead

Beijing: Numbers of bikes increase

Doris Pui-ying Lee