Dupree, a 25 year old bike mechanic and advocate at Natooke-a fixed gear and juggling store– told me stories of his youth living in a Hutong with a big shared yard and a 400 year old tree. The yard provided a large flexible open space to ride and race with friends until someone falls down. Unfortunately, spaces like this are now protected from shenanigans by the government–reducing the available space for bike play in Beijing.

Dupree believes the best way to make biking better in Beijing is to have better policies protecting cyclists riding in designated bike lanes. Laws should be created making the driver liable, no matter what, if an accident occurs in the bike lane. Currently, the police will tell you to talk it through with the driver and figure out what to do yourself. They don’t take a solid position, leaving the rider with few options after a crash.

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