The disappearing Flying Pigeon

Most of you are familiar with my beloved Gazelle Classic, and know how I refuse to get on a faster, lighter bicycle because I love riding my Gazelle in the city.  I love it so much I even got one when I was in the Netherlands two years ago working at DHV.  Although I struggled up the hills on Martha's Vineyard last summer, I still didn't regret riding my Gazelle. I thought about getting the Chinese Gazelle-equivalent here in Beijing, called the Flying Pigeon. 

But I hesitate.

Beijing was and probably still is the city with the most number of bicycles in the world. Once upon a time, the Flying Pigeons were so high in demand, that one would need personal connections to acquire one.  Today, the Flying Pigeons are quickly disappearing and replaced by motorcycles and cars.  When I was here back in 2007, I still thought there were a lot of bicycles.  People would somehow float on the road with their bikes en masse, as if they were in a large group of fish.  I wasn't sure how one would exit out of the pack to make a turn, but they somehow manage.  

What I see now are cars crowding the streets, filled with new drivers that barely know how to drive.  Imagine a sea of teenage drivers.  They barely stop for pedestrians, so why would they be stopping for bicycles?  How safe would one feel riding on the bike lane that is also now used by the motorcycles and cabs?

I found a good piece of writing on Bicycling Magazine about the Flying Pigeon worth the read.  At the end of the article, it talks about a bride and groom riding off their ceremony on a Flying Pigeon and sidesaddle.  Not too bad of an idea :)  I can imagine Sarah and Michael riding off on a tandem bike or something like that.  Ha!  (Michael you know you want one)

Another vehicle that I notice on the streets is the passenger tricycles, aka the Flying Coffin.  These are not as well known as the Flying Pigeons, but apparently the locals and the visitors all agree on the name.  Some Flying Coffins are motored, but there are still some pedaled by man power.  It's somewhat similar to an old school rickshaw, except that it has three wheels.

The reason these are called Flying Coffins is because they are so dangerous, even the locals do not like to ride them.  I often see a group of Coffin owners hanging out at a busy street corner playing cards, waiting for customers.  The only advantage?  They maneuver fast.  They can ride on the sidewalks, or even ride down the wrong direction on the street.  When you wait for a bus or get stuck in traffic for hours in a cab, sometimes this is the only option to be at a place on time.  As many suggested, only ride it when you are desperate.  At least you are facing backwards and can't see the insane course that the driver takes you through.