Thanks to the latest efforts to tackle the gridlock in Beijing, like the license-plate lottery system and increased parking fees, many people are now travelling by bike.

Beijing has used license plate restrictions to limit the number of cars and set out plans to keep the oldest and most polluting vehicles off roads when air is especially bad.

Though the plan was widely expected, its duration could encourage Beijing's more-affluent drivers to attempt to evade the measures by switching license plates or using alternate cars.