Rambling Different Trails: Rambles Were Limited, But Not Transportation Choices.

An article by Janine Copple    1 Comment

It’s been tough getting away to ride much during final exams, so I’m going to share some of the variety of transportation I’ve seen here. Cars simply are not the best choice. Most people get around on electric scooters and three-wheelers. There is also quite a variety of electric micro vehicles that don’t seem to know what they are. They even pass through the bike and pedestrian gates at the campus entrances.

Single occupant transport, out of the elements.

Bicycles here are often seen as multi-person transportation and I’m not just talking about carrying toddlers. I’ve seen children and college students riding in the front basket of Hellobike bike shares.  Friends often hitch a ride on the rack of any bike.

Space for three.

I regret not getting a photo of the amputee with one usable limb cranking a hand-powered trike with his good arm through a street market. The line between a power-chair, mobility scooter, and versions of an electric pedi-cab that look like rolling living room furniture here is a fine one. And you often cannot tell who is disabled and who is not. It’s all just transportation.

I don’t recall seeing a parking garage here in Zhoukou for cars, but they do exist for scooters and bikes.

Level two parking at the hospital.

I’m fine sharing the road with electric micro vehicles. We’re of a similar size and they don’t go as fast as cars. Unfortunately the three-wheelers often lack mirrors and their view is blocked when they have conestoga-wagon like trailers. This can make them somewhat dangerous.

This flat bed re-cycler also lacks side mirrors. The scooter operator in the foreground wears the popular visor with no helmet, and backward shirt. Most avoid sun and wind damage to skin whenever possible with pogies on the handlebars year-round.

Decals are wildly popular on cars and on micro vehicles, too.

Tiny racks and “steamer trunks” are appearing over the back bumpers of these micro vehicles.

Many scooters have rain wraps and “sunbrellas”, helping operators commute year-round in relative comfort.

I wish Americans would think more “beyond the car.” Of course, bikes are best in my view, but there are so many more alternatives available than the car. China seems to be exploring more options while the U.S. is stuck in a car-centric culture.