I know the people who choose to view this thread might wonder what in the world is going on here? What does this have to do with being "car free?" Does it mean freedom from the internal combustion engine or even mass transit? Real independence or an illusion? Or is China becoming "just like us" in even a faster span of years adopting even brand snobbery & a massive turn from the bicycle? Or might they must return to a more sane lifestyle as we here on the Car Free forum & other forums on Bikeforums are doing sharing ideas and encouragement after a long spell from sanity?

You decide.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0713-china-consumer-20100713,0,1615376.story

".....The village people now have money in their pockets.....," said Bao, who recalls getting awkward looks after he gave people dresses that had been his daughter's. "My brother took me aside and told me people don't need this stuff anymore. If you can't afford something nice, maybe you should just not bring anything at all."

From: What Gifts To Bring To A Nation That Makes Everything?

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chinese-gifts-20100725,0,4582908.story?page=1&utm_medium=feed&track=rss&utm_campaign=Feed:%20latimes/news/local%20(L.A.%20Times%20-%20California%20|%20Local%20News)&utm_content=Google%20Feedfetcher&utm_source=feedburner

Comment: For some reason, the above quote brings back memories of ridicule from other people as my father drove his little Mini Cooper in the 1960s surrounded by huge gas guzzling monsters & riding my bike beyond my 16th birthday (age for getting a driver's license in my area) a little later. I think "Who is laughing now?"