This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

Not that long ago, private citizens in China could not own cars. In fact, the only cars you saw on the road were government vehicles. And you didn’t see many of these. No. What you did see was bicycles. They came by the dozen, by the hundreds, by the thousands, bearing down on the unwary jaywalker in an unbroken mosaic as far as the naked eye could see. Bikes with one rider, bikes with small helmetless children perched on creaking rattan bike seats, bikes transporting furniture and small appliances and mountains of goods piled precariously on jerry-rigged bike racks. And these were not your titanium lightweight models, either. These were heavy, gearless clunkers being ridden miles and miles. Chinese workers from all income levels mixing exercise with transportation without contributing to the air pollution level. It was inspirational. Really. And admirable. As long as you stayed on the sidewalk.

From the Center for East Asian Studies, I’m Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.