Beijing bans shared bikes in military areas By K J M Varma

Beijing: China's capital Beijing today banned shared bikes from military areas apparently for security reasons and to reduce growing traffic congestion on the city's roads arising due to a booming bicycle-sharing industry. The shared cycles, which became a major hit in the city in recent months, will not be allowed to enter military areas and hospitals, residential areas and sanatoriums administrated by the military in Beijing, a military officer said yesterday.

"Bike sharing has brought new problems to the management of military areas, such as illegal parking and entering and exiting without approval," an officer with the training management department of the Central Military Commission told state-run Xinhua news agency. "The army's image would be tainted once misuse like bike refitting or damage is found in military areas," he said. Shared bikes are being moved away from military zones, and inspections will be carried out by the department, he added.

Beijing and several other cities experienced a major cycle boom bringing back memories of 1970s when millions of Chinese used to cycle their way to work. Cashing on the boom, over a half a dozen starts-ups dumped millions of bikes in various parts of the city. The users have to pay a small deposit, download the app and use it for about one yuan (about USD 15 cents) per hour and leave it wherever they want.

The Ministry of Transport on Monday released draft rules requiring local governments to strengthen oversight of the sector. The service has reduced traffic congestion and cut auto emissions, but haphazardly parked bikes often block sidewalks, resulting in complaints. There were 18.9 million users of shared bicycles nationwide at the end of 2016, according to official statistics. The number is expected to hit 50 million by the end of this year, according to the China E-Commerce Research Centre.