Fatal road accident leads to calls for biking awareness

Poorly-designed roads and a lack of consideration by motorists have been the focus of online debate following a horrific traffic accident in east China's Shandong province that led to the deaths of five bikers.

The incident occurred in the city of Yantai on June 22, when a sedan crashed into a group of bikers in a non-motor vehicle lane, killing five of the cyclists, according to municipal government officials.

Four bikers were killed at the scene, while another died after being taken to a local hospital. Three others were injured. All of them belonged to the Brothers Bicycling Club in the provincial capital of Jinan, officials said.

The driver of the sedan, a man over 60 years of age who claimed to have driven cars for over two decades, said he experienced sudden dizziness right before the crash.

The driver has been detained and police are investigating the accident. Although the cause of the crash has not yet been clarified, Chinese netizens have called for a better road environment for cyclists in the wake of the accident.

"Charging cars, you have ruined my passion for bicycling. As bikers, we do not fear wind or bumpy roads, but we fear you," netizen "Linqinglovect" wrote on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging site.

Bicycling has grown more popular in China in recent years, as the traffic jams and pollution that have accompanied increasing car ownership have inspired some people to ditch their four-wheeled transport for something more environmentally friendly.

However, the danger of riding a bike on jam-packed roads has discouraged others from taking up the hobby. Many Chinese cities still do not have designated lanes for bicycles, forcing bikers to share small amounts of road real estate with cars, motorcycles and pedestrians alike.

"Even if some roads have a bicycle lane, it often becomes a parking lot, as many cars drive there without permission or supervision," wrote "bewildered black-eyed cat" on Sina Weibo.

Li Wei, a lawyer at the Beijing Yingke Law Firm, said the driver should not have been allowed to receive a driver's license if he was previously diagnosed with vertigo, which can cause sudden bouts of dizziness.

Li added that the police department that issued the license without thoroughly investigating the driver's physical condition should be held accountable.

"I hope to see some changes in urban road planning, especially in Yantai, in order to create a safer environment for bicycling," said Qiang Wei, head of sports marketing at Ogilvy & Mather China.

"I also think we should create a 'Biker's Day' to commemorate those who have lost their lives while engaging in a sport they loved," Qiang said.