'Slow-way system' necessary for a better city

If a city values "speed" only, its residents will lack happiness and a sense of belonging. Zheng Shi, a city architect and the member of Beijing's political consultative conference, suggested building a 5-kilometer low-speed circle for bicycles and walking, and he says promoting the development of a "slow-way system" is also a successful experience of international developed cities, says an editorial in Beijing News Daily. Excerpts:

Currently, the development aim of many cities is to speed up transportation, such as by building high-speed rail, intercity trains and subways, while plans for constructing a "slow-way system" are difficult to promote and operate in reality. However, in some developed countries, greenway and slow-way circles are relatively better developed.

Such a slow-way system is not only an environmentally friendly mode of transportation; its quality and layout in city planning also directly shows the city’s humanistic spirit. It is more like a cultural symbol, a reflection of quality of life. A city without a slow-way system, one that values only high speed, would leave its residents unhappy and without a sense of belonging.

In Beijing, building the city's slow-way system will be a major theme for its public transportation development in the future. Nowadays, many developed cities overseas are transforming from high-speed ways to slow-speed ways by building more ways for bicycles and walking.

In actual operation, it is wise to realize a point-to-point trip for residents, which means a nonstop and convenient trip mode. Moreover, many overpasses, tunnels, dead-end highways and over-long railings should be avoided as they can easily block bicycles.

In 2013, "improving the slow-way system, promoting the public bike rental service and advocating the idea of green and civilized travel" are part of the local government work report for the first time ever. Therefore, more supporting facilities and services will be needed, and population distribution should be taken into account in the whole plan as well.