Last week’s Olympics on my Ride event in Trafalgar Square was a fitting way to mark the move from Beijing 2008 to London 2012. I welcomed a group of Chinese cyclists who rode 2,500 miles to give London a blessing before the now-underway Olympic Games and to promote cycling as a green, fun, and convenient way to get around. I heard from many people – cyclists and otherwise – who were inspired by the hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm of this group.
As Chinese and British cyclists met and exchanged stories, I spoke to reporters from Chinese television channels ICS and CCTV about the lessons Chinese cities can learn from London, and vice versa. I told them about my visit to Guangzhou late last year, and how I was struck that we both face similar problems, though on different scales: congested roads and poor air quality. In both countries, however, there are inspiring movements of people working to take back the street for the bike.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV have since posted their story online. You can see the video, including interviews with myself as well as Chinese and British cyclists, here.
