China has witnessed an exponential growth in the number of cars on its roads, but pedestrians and cyclists have been marginalised as urban planning focused on creating an infrastructure for a car-dependant society.
The once ubiquitous bicycle has been in decline for a number of years, taken over by the sheer volume of cars rolling off garage forecourts – 18 million sold in China in 2011.
But the pendulum may be swinging away from cars as the Chinese government wants to hear from members of the public about how to improve sidewalks and bike lines.
A soon to be launched website developed by Beijing Transport Research Center and the World Bank with support from Ushahidi will help designers and urban planners understand more about how the country’s roads are being used and where changes might be needed.
There is an underlying aim to preserve and if possible increase the number of people who get on their bikes and ride.
Public Involvement
When the website is live it will allow the public to create mini reports on issues related to the roads and cycling and walking experiences. These can then be submitted via smartphone apps, social media, SMS and the web.
The user-generated reports will be mapped and visualized for others to comment on giving planners valuable feedback on where to prioritize their efforts. The site is currently being tested and is expected to be launched later this year.