Advisers suggest lanes for cyclists only

Exclusive lanes for cyclists have been suggested by five political advisers to ease traffic congestion and promote eco-friendly transport.

Cycling is low-carbon, environmentally friendly and good for health, their proposal says. 

Many Chinese cities are promoting the use of bikes and eco-friendly transport, but mixing bikes with motor vehicles and having bikes on sidewalks had led to a large number of accidents and potential hazards, the advisers said.

There are an estimated 4.21 million vehicles in Shanghai, and the growth rate is 20 percent in Chinese cities with a population of over a million, calling for better planning of road resources, according to the proposal.

Such cyclist-exclusive lanes exist in the Netherlands, totaling more than 30,000 kilometers, and Denmark, the proposal says.

The lanes are not only time-efficient for cyclists, but also help cut emissions of carbon dioxide and ease traffic jams, it adds.

In Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian Province and Beijing, bicycle expressways have been built.

Shanghai is among the top 10 crowded cities in China in terms of traffic, and modern transport has triggered congestion and air pollution, the proposal says.

The big investment in improving transport in the city cannot cope with the rise in automobile numbers and pressure on the Metro system is also sever, advisers said. 

Their proposal calls for suitable road sections in downtown areas to be turned into bicycle-exclusive lanes, with bicycle expressways in suburban areas such as Lingang and Nanxiang.

It also suggests coordinated planning of different vehicles on the streets and incentives in green transport.