You may recall earlier posts on the decision by Chinese leaders to ban the use of electric bikes in many major cities. Electric bike use is growing faster than auto use in China, and the officials worried about electric bikes as a the threat to the "pillar industry" of auto manufacturing. Word comes from Green Car Congress, however, that the Beijing city government has lifted its ban on electric bikes.

Removal of the ban came as pressure mounts on city administrators to tackle horrible traffic congestion, air pollution and possible fuel supply, caused to a large extent by a rapidly growing number of cars on the road.

It is just part of a series of measures undertaken by the capital city to address traffic congestion. Other major steps include greatly increasing the number of buses and building more urban railways.