VOA慢速英語：自行車在中國越來越流行

Bicycles have long been used for transportation in China. But recently, cycling - the activity or sport of riding a bicycle for exercise - has become popular among the country's urban middle class. The popularity is, in part, a result of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
自行車在中國早已被用于交通工具。但最近，自行車——確切說是騎自行車鍛煉的活動或運(yùn)動——在城市中產(chǎn)階級中變得流行起來。這種流行在一定程度上是由于疫情造成的。
 
The Chinese Cycling Association says at least 20 million people in the country participate in cycling. Qiyi, a Beijing cycling club, organized biking events that had about 10,000 participants over the past year.
中國自行車協(xié)會表示，全國至少有2000萬人參加自行車運(yùn)動。北京自行車俱樂部七一在過去一年組織了約10,000人參加的自行車活動。
 
The pandemic has played a part in cycling's growing popularity as officials moved quickly to close some businesses, including gymnasiums - or places for exercise.
隨著政府迅速采取行動關(guān)閉一些企業(yè)，包括體育館或鍛煉場所，疫情在自行車越來越受歡迎的過程中發(fā)揮了作用。
 
Cycling, which can be done individually as well as in groups, has largely been free from restrictions.
自行車可以單獨(dú)進(jìn)行，也可以分組進(jìn)行，基本上沒有限制。
 
Lindsay Mo could not exercise indoors after Beijing officials closed gymnasiums in May because of a coronavirus outbreak. So she started cycling - and soon fell in love with the sport. "I realized a racing bicycle was quite different than a regular bike," she said, adding, "It's very fast and exciting..."
由于疫情爆發(fā)，政府于5月關(guān)閉了體育館后，林賽·莫 (Lindsay Mo) 無法在室內(nèi)鍛煉。于是她開始騎自行車——并很快就愛上了這項運(yùn)動。“我意識到賽車與普通自行車完全不同，”她說，并補(bǔ)充道，“它速度很快，非常刺激……”
 
For cyclist Yang Lan, the sport also provides an escape from the daily difficulties of life. "With the pandemic ... it seems to be the only way for us to run away from the terrible city life ..." she said.
對于自行車手楊瀾來說，這項運(yùn)動也提供了一種擺脫日常生活困難的機(jī)會。“由于疫情影響......騎自行車似乎是我們逃離可怕的城市生活的唯一途徑......”她說。
 
Cycling's growth in China is a result of the growing popularity of outdoor activities in general, said Feng Baozhong, vice president of the Chinese Cycling Association.
中國自行車協(xié)會副會長馮寶忠表示，自行車在中國的發(fā)展是戶外活動日益普及的結(jié)果。
 
"Especially after the pandemic, people have a desire to walk out of rooms and buildings to do sports outdoors," Feng added.
馮補(bǔ)充說：“特別是在大流行之后，人們渴望走出房間，去進(jìn)行戶外運(yùn)動。”
 
Naturally, the growth in cycling has increased the demand for bicycles.
自然地，自行車運(yùn)動的增長增加了對自行車的需求。
 
American bicycle brand Specialized says its Beijing stores' sales rose 20 to 30 percent from March to June, compared to the same period a year earlier. The increase would have been twice as large if not for a shortage of bike products, said He Dong, who is in charge of the Beijing dealer of Specialized.
美國自行車品牌 Specialized 表示，3月到6月，其北京門店的銷售額比去年同期增長了20%到30%。負(fù)責(zé)Specialized北京經(jīng)銷商的何東說，如果不是因為自行車產(chǎn)品短缺，增幅將是原來的兩倍。
 
Zhou Fuyuan is the founder of Magic Cycling, an online bicycle information provider in China. Zhou said China's bicycle market was a $12 to $15 billion industry in 2021. Research and Markets, a research group, estimates sales could reach $16.5 billion by 2026.
周福源是中國在線自行車信息提供商Magic Cycling的創(chuàng)始人。周說，到 2021 年，中國的自行車市場是一個價值12到150 億美元的產(chǎn)業(yè)。研究機(jī)構(gòu) Research and Markets 估計，到2026年，銷售額可能達(dá)到165億美元。
 
Increasing demand and worldwide supply chain problems mean that people wanting to buy bicycles must wait weeks or months to get one. For every Specialized bicycle sold in Beijing at least 10 customers are waiting for their bicycles to arrive, He said.
不斷增長的需求和全球供應(yīng)鏈問題，意味著購車者必須等待數(shù)周或數(shù)月才能買到。他說，每輛在北京銷售的Specialized自行車，至少有10名顧客在等。
 
Some people choose to pay more for whatever bicycle is available. Joanna Lei spent $8,900 on her first racing bicycle. She said the money was better spent than on a luxury bag.
有些人選擇為任何可用的自行車支付更多費(fèi)用。Joanna Lei 在她的第一輛賽車上花費(fèi)了 8,900 美元。她說，這些錢比花在奢侈品包上更劃算。
"What you are investing in is your own body and a very good workout habit," she said. Lei added, "I think it's more valuable than clothes that you wear or handbags that you use."
“你投資的是你自己的身體和一個非常好的鍛煉習(xí)慣，”她說，“我認(rèn)為它比衣服或手提包更有價值。”
 
People will have more choices for sports and entertainment when the pandemic is over. But Feng says he expects cycling to remain popular because it is driven by China's growing wealth and people's increased health concerns.
疫情結(jié)束后，人們將有更多的運(yùn)動和娛樂選擇。但馮說，他預(yù)計自行車運(yùn)動將繼續(xù)流行，因為它是由中國不斷增長的財富和人們對健康問題的日益關(guān)注所推動的。
 
The sport's popularity is also a sign of the public's growing awareness of environmental protection.
這項運(yùn)動的火爆也是公眾環(huán)保意識增強(qiáng)的標(biāo)志。
 
"Such a lifestyle is probably healthier and is more beneficial to society," Yang said. She added, "I think people now have a good sense of environmental protection and hope to do good for society."
“這樣的生活方式可能更健康，對社會更有利，”楊說，“現(xiàn)在人們的環(huán)保意識很強(qiáng)，希望做有益于社會的事。”
 
I'm Ashley Thompson.
阿什利·湯普森報道。