Foreigners Disgrace Country by Taking Bikes Onto Beijing Subway

Foreigners Disgrace Country by Taking Bikes Onto Beijing Subway
Nov 03, 2014 By eChinacities.com

On the evening of October 29, around 22:10, three foreigners took their bikes and skateboards into Dawang Lu Station in Beijing, trying to get past the subway’s security check. However, a member of security check staff stopped them.

Onlookers heard the security staff member shouting that all too familiar “no, no, no!” You know, that one you hear when you have inevitably broken some kind of official and serious protocol without knowing it. In all seriousness, this became newsworthy news when the disgraceful foreigners just kept trying to get the bikes past the barriers, at which point the staff member shouted after them that they were causing their nations to lose face. What a shame ‘foreign-land’ is not a nation.

According to strict regulations, bikes and other big objects are forbidden from being taken onto the subway.

Source: China Daily

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Keywords: Foreigners Disgrace Nation

25 Comments

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wagon

I guess they were embarrassments for "trying" to get their bikes on the train at 10 at night. How dare you guys cause me, and all residents of foreignland, to lose face! Jerks! Also, are bicycles any bigger than than those burlap sacks peasants carry all their belongings in?

Nov 08, 2014 08:10 Report Abuse

CAStafford

I've always wondered about taking a bike on the subway and may have tried it myself if it wasn't apparent that I have never seen anyone else do it so it must not be allowed. Is there a sign somewhere that I missed? Anyway, if security stops you then stop. I do think some people are very arrogant when they visit foreign countries. As far as oversized bags, what defines "oversized?" I've seen bags bigger than the people carrying them on the Beijing subway. Honestly, that doesn't bother me because I think the people with those bags have a hard enough life and why should they be denied the cheapest mode of transportation. What other options do they have? Walking?

Nov 05, 2014 21:14 Report Abuse

Guest2779384

I think it is sad to call what the foreigners did a disgrace. It may be better worded as a cultural misunderstanding. In some countries there are bike holders on trains, subways and buses. It is not always clear what one can take on the subway and what one can not. I know I can not take balloons or explosives on the subway in my city but there are no signs about bikes here. To say something is a disgrace is really disrespectful. Many westerners try to learn Chinese culture but we are constantly bombarded with people that want to be "friends" who really just want to practice their English so it can be quite difficult to learn the customs and the culture of the country. There is also the practice of "saving face" (lying) The foreigners could have very well asked a Chinese local "Can I take my bike on the subway?" and it is very possible the Chinese person they were asking did not know, and wanted to save face and just responded "yes" instead of admitting they did not know.

Nov 05, 2014 21:02 Report Abuse

The-Final-Say

I am so ashamed. I should have been in Beijing to tell my fellow foreigners to behave and obey the rules like the rest of the people do. It's my own fault, I am sorry.

Nov 05, 2014 13:12 Report Abuse

Englteachted

Why am I not surprised by the level of ignorance and lack of class. 1. We were born and raised in civilized countries. (Speaking for myself) We were raised by parents who taught us how to behave in public, including respect for authority. 2. How would you feel if some asshole went to your country and disrespected the rules and the officials responsible for enforcing those rules. 3. Your excuses and reasoning wouldn't be mature thinking even if they came out of the mouth of a 6 year old. 'But in my city..." , "But Chinese break the rules". If you had a grain of common sense you would know 2 things. First some rules are enforced some rules aren't enforced (even at different times). This is true the world over. In Australia there's a festival where people smoke a lot of pot. That doesn't mean you can walk around in Melbourne in the middle of the street smoking weed. Second laws and regulations vary city to city and state/ province to state/province. What moron doesn't know this????? What idiot can't guess why in a city like Beijing, where the subways are packed, they wouldn't allow 20 million Chinese to take the subway with their bikes? Additionally, what did your parents teach you? (Or should have) If it is law, don't break it, even if you see everyone else breaking it. I was pulled over for driving 5 miles over the speed limit, did I ignore the officer? (According to your retarded logic that would be ok) I pulled over and was very polite and I apologized for going 5 miles over the speed limit and told him I thought that it was ok. He checked me out and said I could go with a verbal warning to slow down. (I have a brain I understood he did not want to admit he forgot the speed limit was 35 and not 25) The behavior of these individuals and anyone who goes to another country and disrespects the law, disrespects law enforcement officials is despicable they should have been arrested and deported. Many times the crossing officer tells me to stop while other Chinese cross against the light, you know what I do I smile and wait. (Admin: this is an analogy and is not referring to China) If a civilized human being was placed to live among chimps that would be no excuse to act like a chimp.

Nov 04, 2014 20:07 Report Abuse

Guest2779384

If you read the article they TRIED to take the bikes on. I think maybe just a misunderstanding.

Nov 06, 2014 14:52 Report Abuse

alleywatson

you can't take big objects onto the subway ?, here in Shanghai i've seen the guys with massive and I mean massive bags (bigger than the Ikea ones) with stuff in em, and leave them next to the bloody door, causing the people getting on and off all kinds of problems. (But that's ok i guess) But going back to the topic, god knows why you'd want to take a bicycle on a subway without researching it first is beyond me,

Nov 04, 2014 18:07 Report Abuse

venencia

wooow

Nov 04, 2014 13:42 Report Abuse

gouxiong

I see the problem in certain arrogance of some foreigners. I witnessed a guy walking his dog to the park where no dogs are allowed. When stopped by security so he just walked on pretending he does not speak Chinese. His Chinese is almost perfect but even if not speaking a word the security gestures and the sing 'no dogs' were very obvious. As long as many foreigners will consider bypassing Chinese rules (and mainly laws) as point to boast about when getting drunk on Friday evening rather then disgrace to them, so there will be always a reputation problem for all foreigners in the country. By the way this is valid for almost all countries around the world.

Nov 04, 2014 11:47 Report Abuse

Englteachted

gou: You are right . America has gun problem. China has a rules enforcement problem. I would never want anyone coming to my country and adding to an existing problem. Same logic, I shouldn't add to China's existing problems. Anyone who can't understand that simple principle needs to go back to their own country to re-educate themselves.

Nov 04, 2014 20:15 Report Abuse

gouxiong

And can you pls explain me what has the other people wrong doing in common with, eventually (and without accusing you :) ), a certain person improper behaviour?

Nov 06, 2014 10:39 Report Abuse

gouxiong

Yes, Englteachted. This is one point. Another could be that I assume that ignoring or breaking the law is simply a wrong thing to do (as long as the person has a free choice of eventual accepting or rejecting the situation when the law applies to the person - what all foreigners in their host countries have). It may be difficult to affect the other people but before even thinking about such a task, it should be everybody's aim to improve own behaviour.

Nov 06, 2014 10:46 Report Abuse

gouxiong

If we talk about adult person so this person should be able to control own behaviour and if this person is not the rascal so not to behave in contradiction to the valid rules and regulations. Apparently there are a lot of guys with adult body but highly immature way of thinking. As a remark let me add that probably it's not a coincidence that a lot of these persons decides to reply anonymously even though already their echinacities nickname is anonymous ... :)

Nov 08, 2014 15:07 Report Abuse

Ilikedumplings

So you've seen Chinese take their bikes on subways..??? I don't think so... can you imagine if they were allowed? everyone in China owns a bike so there would be no room for people without bikes..

Nov 04, 2014 11:42 Report Abuse

Guest2278378

Who wrote/translated this? "What a shame ‘foreign-land’ is not a nation." What is that supposed to mean? Thanks for the objective journalism guys!

Nov 04, 2014 11:01 Report Abuse

bill8899

yea i think it was a joke ...

Nov 04, 2014 21:35 Report Abuse

Karajorma

Indeed. The article is pointing out that the "You are making your country lose face" complaint by the staff is worthless if you don't know which country they are from.

Nov 05, 2014 11:16 Report Abuse

Garbo

I guess Beijing isn't developed enough to allow bikes on the subway.

Nov 04, 2014 10:42 Report Abuse

tbh66

Have seen much more offending behavior by citizens on subways

Nov 04, 2014 09:00 Report Abuse

tbh66

off course all laowais are dirty...RIGHT...because locals cannot see through the BJ haze.

Nov 04, 2014 10:07 Report Abuse

RobRocks

I have seen people in Shenzhen take there bikes on the metro.are there different laws for different cities?

Nov 04, 2014 07:40 Report Abuse

Englteachted

Are you aware that there are different regulations in different cities? There are different regulations for different cities. Beijing subways are seriously over crowded. Also they might enforce it at different times depending on volume.

Nov 04, 2014 19:35 Report Abuse

tostada_halex

Foldable bikes are ok in Wuhan..but you can't get pass with a normal bike. Sorry but those guys were not right.

Nov 07, 2014 19:04 Report Abuse

Guest434920

Ah... so when Chinese flout the laws, and I point it out, the response is, "Don't worry about it. This is China, and no one follows the rules." When non-Chinese do it, then its, "Look at those horrible foreigners! They shame the Foreignland with their disrespect of our glorious country." Also, the original news site refers to the people by a racial slur. But hey... there's no discrimination in China... the government says so.

Nov 04, 2014 05:40 Report Abuse

DrMonkey

Disgrace to themselves... Thanks for the reputation building, guys.

Nov 03, 2014 22:46 Report Abuse