Shared Bikes a Popular Option in Wuhan Following Lockdown

Shared bike companies in China report that many residents in Wuhan have been relying on bikes for transportation in the immediate aftermath of a 76-day lockdown.

1 minute read

April 23, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


China Bikeshare

atiger / Shutterstock

Zhao Shiyue reports for China Daily that the use of shared bikes is soaring in Wuhan after lockdown and travel restrictions were lifted on April 8. 

"For the three consecutive days since April 6, the cycling volume of Meituan bikes has been hitting new records, registering a daily growth rate of nearly 20 percent on average," according to Shiyue. 

The news contrasts with an article by Bloomberg News, published shortly after the lockdown ended, which reported surging numbers of car purchases

While the article doesn't include any ridership data for dates previous to the coronavirus emerging in Wuhan, Shiyue does note that bike share options were popular for use by healthcare workers during the city's 76-day lockdown.

Friday, April 17, 2020 in China Daily

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Flat modern glass office tower with "County of Santa Clara" sign.

Santa Clara County Dedicates Over $28M to Affordable Housing

The county is funding over 600 new affordable housing units via revenue from a 2016 bond measure.

7 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of dense urban center with lines indicating smart city concept.

Why a Failed ‘Smart City’ Is Still Relevant

A Google-backed proposal to turn an underused section of Toronto waterfront into a tech hub holds relevant lessons about privacy and data.

May 23 - Governing

Pale yellow Sears kit house with red tile roof in Sylva, North Carolina.

When Sears Pioneered Modular Housing

Kit homes sold in catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward made homeownership affordable for midcentury Americans.

May 23 - The Daily Yonder