China is home to a world-record 470-million bicycles, but theft is widespread. A common topic of discussion among foreign residents is the latest loss, despite chains and padlocks, either in the street or in high-rise lobbies.
"People who provide the police with clues resulting in arrest of more than 15 bike pilferers and seizure of over 50 stolen bikes will, as of Wednesday, be awarded a maximum of 5 000 yuan," Xinhua news agency quoted Ma Weiya, an official with the Ministry of Public Security, as saying.
The ministry would "take measures to quell rampant bicycle theft such as attaching ID cards to every bicycle produced, requiring real-name identification in bicycle trade and establishing a database of thieves", Ma was quoted as saying.
A Chinese minister slammed city planners last year for pandering to private car owners and ignoring the needs of cyclists, saying China should remain the "kingdom of bicycles".
Construction Ministry Vice Minister Qiu Baoxing lamented the fact that some Chinese cities were cutting back on bicycle lanes to make more room for cars even as congested Western cities were building more lanes for cyclists.
http://www.int.iol.c...25113368C677821
Well what do you think?
I read that they now ban bikes in certain parts to make room for more cars. Assumingly even motorcycles maybe because from their point of view cars can fit more people in the same space. Now I think this is the next step:
I thought the streets are too busy for police to chase down and target stolen piles of metal and rubber. Shouldn't they be concentrating on car thefts and illegal exports?
I think the car companies might be paying the police more than 5,000 yuan to catch every cycler accused. So instead they use the public to snoop on each other until no bikes are left.
Now why would a thief want to steal a bike instead of a faster moving vehicle such as a car?
I'll call it the "Kingdom of Bribery."
This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 15 March 2007 - 09:32 PM