[Deepsycher]

Beijing - China, where bicycles once ruled the road in swarms and still just about outnumber bicycle thieves, is cracking down on bicycle theft, offering rewards for tip-offs on offenders.

China is home to a world-record 470-million bicycles, but theft is widespread. A common topic of discussion among foreign residents is the latest loss, despite chains and padlocks, either in the street or in high-rise lobbies.

"People who provide the police with clues resulting in arrest of more than 15 bike pilferers and seizure of over 50 stolen bikes will, as of Wednesday, be awarded a maximum of 5 000 yuan," Xinhua news agency quoted Ma Weiya, an official with the Ministry of Public Security, as saying.

The ministry would "take measures to quell rampant bicycle theft such as attaching ID cards to every bicycle produced, requiring real-name identification in bicycle trade and establishing a database of thieves", Ma was quoted as saying.

A Chinese minister slammed city planners last year for pandering to private car owners and ignoring the needs of cyclists, saying China should remain the "kingdom of bicycles".

Construction Ministry Vice Minister Qiu Baoxing lamented the fact that some Chinese cities were cutting back on bicycle lanes to make more room for cars even as congested Western cities were building more lanes for cyclists.

http://www.int.iol.c...25113368C677821

Well what do you think?

I read that they now ban bikes in certain parts to make room for more cars. Assumingly even motorcycles maybe because from their point of view cars can fit more people in the same space. Now I think this is the next step:

I thought the streets are too busy for police to chase down and target stolen piles of metal and rubber. Shouldn't they be concentrating on car thefts and illegal exports?

I think the car companies might be paying the police more than 5,000 yuan to catch every cycler accused. So instead they use the public to snoop on each other until no bikes are left.

Now why would a thief want to steal a bike instead of a faster moving vehicle such as a car?

I'll call it the "Kingdom of Bribery."

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 15 March 2007 - 09:32 PM

[TheOrator]

Oh my God, DS, this title was an excellent joke! I loved Animal Farm!

And I don't give a toss about what China does, they're such a huge bureaucracy that no one can change their mind.

[J m HofMarN]

China: It's Communistic!

[Deepsycher]

Yes I know. I deliberately call it that. Con munistic.
If it is 100% equal then I'll call it communism.

When Government officials come here, we kill a tiger for them so they have fresh meat. Other visitors are given meat from tigers killed in fights. We now have 140 tigers in the freezer.

http://www.raidersne...in_page_id-1770

I do ask. If it is SUPPOSE to be equal why are lions freshly slaughtered for officials while the public are only given meat from matches?

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 16 March 2007 - 06:41 AM

[Deepsycher]

That kind of thing is "The public are all equal but Government officials are more equal than others."

[Slade]

That is the sad truth of it. It's also quite barbaric to kill tigers for their meat. Maybe if they had tiger-farms it wouldn't be quite as bad, but it would still be weird and gross.

[Gobbler]

Then slaughtering cows is not gross?

[Deepsycher]

Yes every other country is just as hyprocritical there.
I am just pointing out how it isn't equal.

One rule for government officials another rule for the public.

[Otal Nimrodi]

China: It's Communistic!

I was gonna say Commulicious.

[Deepsycher]

Don't forget the "n." Secrets are privilgies only to be equally shared with the officials. Speak a word like what happened some years ago with that man who they accused of threatening the country's security over words. If I remember rightfully. He wasn't even told his crime because it was a secret which shows that the prosecutors and the courts are more equal than others. So they can speak of truths and lie in secret.

I don't know how to put that one:

Words are all dangerous but some are more dangerous than others.

I know this one is true:

Vehicles are all equal but some are more equal than others.