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在线翻译:
szdaily -> In depth -> 
Intensive Metro service leads to more BMWcommuting
    2011-06-21  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    With the opening of five Metro lines in June, the city’s Metro network will run 178 kilometers and cover six districts with 118 stations. It will form the backbone of the public transport system by carrying more than 2 million passengers a day with its fast and convenient service. It will also change people’s daily commuting habits and affect the business of other public transportation services such as buses and taxies.

   Han Ximin

    WITH the opening of new Metro lines in Shenzhen, more people are considering the economical and healthy way of getting to work known as BMW communiting. It combines bicycle, Metro and walking. Yet the environmentally friendly form of travel is facing obstacles such as shortages of bicycle lanes, bicycle rental services and parking places for bicycles.

    Li Jianwei, a resident in Nanyou, Nanshan District, is a fan of cycling. She prefers it to driving. After the opening of Line 1, she decided to make a change by taking the Metro instead of driving to her office in Tian’an Cyber City in Fuitan District. The best way to the nearest Taoyuan Station of Metro Line 1, which is 2 kilometers from her home, is to cycle.

    Yet to her disappointment, she couldn’t find a place to put her bicycle and the way to the station is somewhat dangerous as she had to ride on the vehicle lane because pavements are too crowded during rush hours.

    She even considered carrying her bike to her office by Metro, but this is not allowed.

    The shortage of bicycle lanes and parking stands is becoming the challenge for BMW commuters, according to Sun Gang, secretary of Shenzhen Cycling Sports Association.

    “In Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, there are bicycle lanes, which are three meters wide along the vehicle lanes. But in Shenzhen there are only some disconnecting bicycle lanes at Shennan Boulevard, Xinzhou Road and Binhe Road, but the lanes were often occupied by pedestrians,” Sun said.

    With the opening of more Metro lines, the government should consider setting up bicycle stands near Metro stations, or encourage private investors to engage in the bicycle rental business, which is thriving in Beijing, Sun suggested.

    Though there are some bicycle stands near Xiangmihu Station, they were not built by the Metro company and are unguarded.

    “The government had invested a huge amount of money in Metro projects. As part of continuing the development of the transport system, bicycle transport deserves its own support,” Sun said.

    Wang Jiang, professor at the Logistics Research Institute of Shenzhen University, said bicycles are popular in Western countries. There are places to park bicycles at stations and on some inter-city trains, there are bicycle compartments.

    “Shenzhen should build more bicycle lanes and offer bicycle rental services at some major or big Metro stations for commuters,” Wang said.

    According to the city’s transport commission, the city will build 135 kilometers of bicycle lanes at the end of the year, bringing the total length to 245 kilometers.

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