BEIJING: A series of cycling-related accidents has prompted Chinese authorities to issue safety alerts, urging cyclists and motorcyclists to obey traffic rules, wear helmets and avoid alcohol.
On Aug 11, a tragic incident in Rongcheng county, Hebei province, captured widespread attention after online videos showed a father and son riding with a cycling club when the boy accidentally fell into the opposite lane and was struck by a car, according to ThePaper.cn, a Shanghai-based news outlet. The county’s traffic management bureau confirmed the boy’s death two days later, and an investigation is ongoing.
The incident quickly went viral on Chinese social media, sparking public concern over cycling safety. Cycling has surged in popularity as an outdoor sport, particularly among the younger generation.
A report by social media platform Xiaohongshu revealed that bike-related content increased nearly 400 percent between January and October last year, with over 1 billion views of the topic.
In response to the growing trend, public security bureaus across China have intensified efforts to raise awareness of cycling safety. Police in Ma’anshan, Anhui province, issued fines and provided legal education to cyclists caught running red lights and using motorways near Binjiang Park. In the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, a campaign against cycling violations was launched early this month, with a focus on cyclists who speed and encroach on pedestrian areas. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
