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Bike lanes restored

Shanghai: Having spent the past decade pursuing a transport policy of four wheels rich, two wheels poor, the Chinese government has suddenly rediscovered the environmental and health benefits of the bicycle. The Construction Ministry announced that any bike lanes that have been narrowed or destroyed to make way for cars in recent years must be returned to their original glory. This followed orders on Tuesday that all civil servants should cycle to work or take public transport to reduce the smog that chokes most streets. Qiu Baoxing, a Vice-Minister with the Ministry of Construction, said it was important for China to retain its title as the ``kingdom of bicycles,'' according to a report by the official Xinhua news agency. The reputation was well deserved 25 years ago, when Beijing was famous for its swarms of cyclists. — @Guardian Newspapers Ltd. 2006

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