(Shanghai Daily news)

The city government has no plans to ban cycling in the downtown area, but will build a road network for cyclists by 2010 when the World Expo is held in Shanghai, a senior official said yesterday.

He also announced that the city will develop the land within 50 meters of the Huangpu River into various public venues instead of leasing them for private real estate developers.

"The bicycle is still a premier transport tool in the city," Wu Jiang, deputy director of Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau, said at a Sino-British symposium on riverside planning.

Late last year, the local police said they would ban cyclists on downtown main roads to make way for motor vehicles and relieve traffic congestion.

They also said that from May 1 errant cyclists will face a fine of up to 50 yuan (US$6), a ten-fold increase in the penalty.

But Wu clarified yesterday that the city will build and open several new roads in the downtown solely for cyclists in the next few years.

He didn't elaborate on how many roads will be added for the city's cyclists, but he said there will be a road network.

"We welcome visitors from home and abroad to go sightseeing in the city on saddles when the World Expo is on," he said.

For decades, bicycles have been popular with most of the Chinese families, because they are cheap and easy to maneuver in traffic.

Shanghai has about 9 million bicycles and the number is increasing.

Several locals contacted by Shanghai Daily yesterday were strongly against the idea of banning cycling.

Yu Pengfei, who works for the Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau in Xuhui District, said: "China is a developing country. It cannot ban bicycles that have many advantages."

Yu rides his bicycle to his office because it's quick and convenient.

"Instead of banning bicycles, the government should consider banning private cars in certain areas," he said.

Yang Hao, who works for a local foreign trade company, said: "Riding a bicycle to work helps me arrive at the office on time every day.

"There is too much traffic congestion in the rush hour. You won't escape it even by calling a taxi."

Wang Shouming, a professor of East China Normal University, said: "It's not realistic to ban bicycles in the city because most residents rely on them.

"It is true that errant cyclists are not difficult to find but the government should try to fix the existing traffic facilities and increase their awareness of the rules instead of banning them all altogether."

Also yesterday, Wu announced that the city will determine the area of World Expo site and work out a final plan for that by the end of June.

He said the city will develop the areas along the Huangpu River for public venues, such as parks, exhibition halls and entertainment sites.

As to the existing commercial buildings along the river, the government will negotiate with their developers and try to persuade them into opening the gardens in their residential areas to public.

More than 100 urban planning experts from China and Britain attended yesterday's symposium to suggest how the city should develop its riverside for the Expo and afterwards.

Michael Vacher, chief representative of PRC Architecture in Asia, said: "Personally, I prefer the permanent buildings inside the World Expo site to remain Chinese traditional styles.

"Expo site planners should concentrate on the after-use of its constructions."