BEIJING CYCLISTS TAKE TO THE ROAD IN NUMBERS

New measures make life safer for those pedaling in the capital

Qian Jiaqi, 39, who took up cycling in Beijing as a hobby when he was a teenager, has seen a well-known route he often takes after work become increasingly crowded with fellow cyclists during evenings and weekends.

"This summer on Chang'an Avenue, it's like the Tour de France every night as cyclists on a wide range of bikes constantly try to overtake each other," Qian said. "On the avenue, traffic jams are now forming in bike lanes, as well as in those designated for motor vehicles. It's quite funny in a way."

According to business insiders and experienced cyclists such as Qian, cycling in urban areas has become increasingly popular over the past two years in China, which was known as the "Kingdom of Bicycles" in the 1980s and early 1990s.