Eric's Beijing Diary

Bikes. I was meeting with Wendy (my Mandarin tutor) in the library coffeeshop at BLCU the other day, when Robert and Peter walked in. Robert and Peter are both ABC's (American Born Chinese) from California. Lots and lots of ABC's in China these days. Anyway they had both gotten their bikes stolen at the same time. According to them, a gang of migrant workers was working the Zhongwancun area. I said, "Did you call the police?" Robert gave me a look that made me feel like a very small child. There is a general perception here that the police either can't do anything about it, or don't want to. But Robert and Peter said that the gang members were picking the bikes off the street, putting them in a van, and then cutting the locks off, and reselling the bikes. I don't know if that is true. When I pressed Peter again about notifying the police, he said, "Well, we didn't actually see them do it." I don't know if this is a case of the police actually being paid off, or one of those situations where a gang moves in and then leaves before getting caught. But somehow I believe that it is still better in this kind of situation to make a point of alerting the police so that, in the event that they really are not aware of what is happening, they can move in.

This is a big problem in China. Well, maybe I shouldn't say "big problem," because bikes really are not too expensive. I am afraid most people just shrug their shoulders and buy another bike.

Leander got his bike stolen a few weeks ago. When I asked him why he had a "two-lock" bicycle, he insisted that it was a "one-lock" bicycle. But when I pressed him about it, he admitted that he had bought a new chain. Old bike with new parts. Prime candidate for theft.

Meanwhile, my one-lock bike is still with me. I try hard to keep it as dirty and rusty as possible. Even the lock, which was new when I bought the bike, is getting a little rusty, for which I am grateful. Believe it or not, it's not easy in Beijing. Such a dry climate. Can't even find a little mud anywhere. I keep my bike in good repair, but you can't tell that by looking at it, because I don't allow anyone to clean it. But every time it starts to gather a little dirt and look pretty cruddy, a good strong wind comes along and blows it clean. It's downright maddening.