The weather is cooling down, the pollution has been generally low, and Beijing's bike lanes are calling your name. If you’ve been tempted to ditch your subway card or Didi drivers this year, take this pleasant fall weather as an excuse to break out of that sweaty subway compartment and start pushing those pedals! Here are five reasons why you should.
It’s not easy to make it to the gym regularly for your doctor-prescribed weekly dose of 150 minutes of moderate exercise. Spend 30 minutes a day biking to work, however, and you’ll clock that while everyone else stares at their phone in transit. You’ll get benefits like improving your heart health, lowering your disease risk, and many more.
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We know your Chinese friends and colleagues are used to covering up in the sunshine, but this is one area where ignoring the “when in Rome ethos” may be beneficial. Getting 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight from 10 am to 3 pm on your arms, legs, and abdomen daily helps you get your daily dose of vitamin D. Still working on your six-pack and prefer to arrive at work fully clothed? Don’t necessarily get on your bike between those hours. Rest assured that spending your commute in daylight rather than underground will help get you closer to your recommended daily amount, allowing you to improve your bone health and enjoy myriad other health benefits.
Sure, you might have to shell out some RMB for a good set of wheels. But, once you’ve spent that initial dough, the cost of maintaining your bike is very low. So, save your cab fare or public transit money and buy yourself something pretty.
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It’s possible to live in Beijing for years without really getting to know the city. If you’re going underground from point A to point B, or if you’re sitting in a cab or your car staring at your phone as you commute, you won’t be experiencing the city as profoundly as you would if you were making your way through it on two wheels. Are there people who drive in the bike lanes? Sure. Do you have to navigate against share bike users biking the wrong way down the road? Always. But you’re also getting lost in hutong streets, smelling the (hopefully) fresh air, and interacting with the city you call home. Plus, you never know when you’ll come across an amazing dumpling restaurant you would have otherwise missed!
There’s just no way around it: Beijing traffic is brutal. However, there is a way around it when you’re on a skinny bicycle, for which there is always space on the bike lane. Whizz past idling cars (with your pollution mask on, of course) as they wait for their turn to squeeze past. You may even find that biking at rush hour will get you home faster than a car could!
Road safety precautions
Are you convinced that biking to work is the way to go? Good for you! You’re on the road to a healthier you. While enjoying yourself out there, it’s a good idea to follow a few road safety precautions to prevent injuries.
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This is absolutely essential. It’s better to have hat hair in the morning than to risk hitting your head. The most severe trauma you can get from bicycle riding is head injuries, and that’s why it’s so important to wear a helmet, according to BJU’s Department of Orthopedics. “Head injuries are the ones that are the most likely to cause permanent damage, so wearing your helmet should be your number one priority when you’re bicycling.” While you’re shopping for a protective and well-fitting helmet, make sure you also pick up safety items like lights and reflectors for riding in the dark.
If you’re from the West, you might feel that honking at others is an aggressive act. In China, however, it’s just a way of alerting other road users to your presence. “Because there is so much traffic, pedestrians, cars, and buses, you have to make yourself heard; Beijingers are used to it.” Not sure what the person in front of you is doing? Give them a honk to remind them to ride safely.
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This includes parked cars! Passengers often open doors without warning. This can block your path or cause you to swerve dangerously. Other cyclists can also be unpredictable, so don’t assume people’s speed or direction will remain constant as you ride near them.
This doesn’t just apply to driving a car. Many accidents happen because of alcohol use – biking home after having a few drinks. If you know you’ll be on the sauce, don’t bring your bike. Get there on a shared bike that you can leave at the pub and get a cab home safely.
United Family Jianguomen Clinic
United Family Jianguomen Clinic opened in 2005 and expanded to 1,750 square meters in December 2015. The clinic is located beside the Diplomatic Residence Compound (DRC) at Jianguomen, is convenient to reach, and has sufficient parking. United Family Jianguomen Clinic offers high-quality and practical multilingual healthcare services with a team of compassionate and experienced doctors and nurses. As an assigned immigration checkup site, United Family Jianguomen Clinic consistently provides caring medical check-up services.
