How Beijing Is Shaping a Bicycle-Friendly Future

When the master plan for the brand new District of Tongzhou was being developed, the directive from the Beijing Mayor—who had just returned from a trip to the Netherlands—was clear: it must put cycling front and centre. At its spine: a 2.7 km corridor connecting its commercial and residential hubs.

In order to fulfil this vision of a world-class sustainable infrastructure project, they went to the Dutch Cycling Embassy; selecting the engineers at Haskoning (including Jasper Homrighausen and Wim van der Wijk) for their extensive experience with regional doorfiets (“non-stop cycling”) routes, to partner with a Beijing-based consultant.

Designed using best practice and principles straight out of the CROW Manual for Bicycle Traffic, the route features a five-metre width for safety, underpasses for directness, shade trees for comfort, and a series of bespoke light fixtures (inscribed with the words “all roads are connected”) for attractiveness.

We spoke to He Wang, Senior Designer at China Sustainable Transportation Center (CSTC) to learn more about the project and how it was inspired by Dutch practices and infrastructure.

We understand the seeds of this project were sown during a visit by the Beijing Mayor to The Hague several years ago. Can you tell us more?
In late 2019, during a study tour of non-motorised transport (NMT) systems in the Netherlands, Beijing’s decision-makers and urban planners proposed that the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (Tongzhou) should draw on Dutch experience to select and develop a pilot project for a cycling and pedestrian system.
Beijing is the first—and currently the only—city in China to explicitly include the vision of “building a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city” in its urban master plan. Currently, Beijing is making every effort to advance its NMT infrastructure, striving to create a safe and comfortable environment for walking and cycling. Concurrently, the city is strengthening cooperation with international organizations to learn from global best practices and continuously optimize its NMT networks.
Against this backdrop, the city’s first dedicated bicycle highway—spanning 6.5 kilometers and connecting Huilongguan in Changping District to the Shangdi Software Park in Haidian District—was built and opened in 2019. As of June 2024, it has seen over 9.35 million rides. For the Tongzhou pilot, which serves as the city’s second cycling pilot project, a Dutch design team was directly invited to participate in the conceptual design.

How does this cycling route fit into the broader development of the Tongzhou neighbourhood and the municipal offices now located there?
The pilot is located in Tongzhou District, which is also the location of the Beijing Municipal Government. In recent years, Tongzhou has formulated and issued a series of policies promoting NMT systems. For instance, the Tongzhou NMT systems set a target for the office areas to achieve a total of 1,500 kilometers of pedestrian and cycling paths by 2025. Furthermore, the district’s comprehensive transportation plan emphasizes the construction of pilot, alongside the refined management of e-bike traffic and charging facilities.
First, within Beijing’s regulatory planning, Tongzhou is set to build a systematic cycling network. This network will complement the Sixth Ring Road Park (created by moving the former expressway underground to free up surface space for parkland). The construction of this pilot further enhances the service level of the Tongzhou’s north-south NMT network and connects to the Green Heart Park to the south.
Second, regarding the office area specifically, the pilot establishes a highly efficient corridor between the office area and residential area. It significantly shortens the cycling commute from 6 kilometers down to 3 kilometers. Before this route existed, driving between these two points took up to 40 minutes; now, the commute takes just over 10 minutes by bike, with vastly improved safety.

Can you tell us more about the decision to engage with Dutch Cycling Embassy and work with a consultant (Haskoning) from our network?
Before the design and construction of the pilot began, numerous local teams had already conducted extensive preliminary research on NMT and cycling in Tongzhou. Following the 2019 study tour in the Netherlands, there was a strong push to further advance Tongzhou’s infrastructure in this area. The goal was to bring international teams into Tongzhou’s future NMT and cycling projects to better learn from and adapt world-class concepts—such as those from the Netherlands—while simultaneously building the capacity of local planning and design teams.

What specific insights and best practices did Haskoning bring to the table? How are these reflected in the final design of the cycling route?
The concept of “low-impact design” was the most critical takeaway from the Dutch experience. Specifically, this meant minimizing disruptions to both the cycling experience and the functional integrity of key nodes when the route crossed highways, railways, rivers, and heritage parks. It also applied to controlling the gradient of the main path to prevent steep inclines and declines from hindering cyclists; the conceptual design aimed for a gentle 2% maximum gradient.
Although the final implementation phase saw some practical optimization of the conceptual design, the “low-impact” principle remained central, especially when crossing major infrastructure and waterways. For example, existing culverts were utilized for safe passage. Additionally, at junctions where the route connects with municipal road networks, the design fully accommodated the need for parking and resting by strategically placing eight service pavilions along the way.

Now that the route has been opened for nearly one year, how is it being used and received by residents and staff working at the municipality?
Residents and staff generally agree that the pilot has brought immense benefits for daily recreation, exercise, and commuting. In fact, it has quickly become the preferred mode of transport for many.
Alongside the 5-meter-wide, two-way cycling lane, the route features 2-meter-wide pedestrian paths on both sides. It seamlessly interconnects with multiple park systems within Tongzhou. Notably, it links up with the heritage park, utilizing 530 meters of its existing park roads to form a shared, two-way cycling path. This allows people to immerse themselves in history while riding, blending profound cultural heritage with modern transport convenience to create a universally friendly, green mobility ecosystem.
Furthermore, viewing platforms were added to the cross-river bridges. As night falls, the interplay between the bridge’s lighting and the water’s ripples transforms the area into a popular, must-visit destination in the Administrative Center.
Since its opening on June 30, 2025, the pilot has seen an average daily traffic volume exceeding 7,000 trips, which includes an average of 5,693 daily cycling trips and 1,428 daily pedestrian trips.

How does this project fit into China’s recent moves to prioritise cycling as a mode of transport, after decades of car-first urban development?
In recent years, national and local governments have increasingly recognized the vital role of NMT in building green, low-carbon, and livable cities. Beijing has consistently been at the forefront of this transition nationwide. As mentioned, it is the first and only city in China to explicitly outline a vision for a “pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city” in its master plan. The Tongzhou cycling pilot translates this vision into a tangible engineering reality, creating a perceptible and replicable model that offers a case study—from planning vision to implementation pathway—for both Beijing and the rest of China.
The project serves as a model for blending international expertise with local practice. By thoroughly learning from the Dutch “low-impact” approach regarding how to cross and connect with highways, railways, rivers, and parks, it provides an effective blueprint for Chinese cities to absorb advanced NMT practices. This includes route organization, node management, and the provision of cycling service facilities.
The success of this pilot has made cycling the most efficient, convenient, and safe commuting choice for the area, while also serving multifunctional purposes like recreation and relaxation. It is a direct response to the practical needs of local residents and staffs.
Ultimately, the Tongzhou demonstration project perfectly encapsulates the ongoing shift in Chinese urban transportation toward a greener, more people-centric mobility system.