Reporters on the Job

• Mom and Dad Were Right: When staff writer Peter Ford and his family arrived in Beijing last year, one of the first things they bought were bikes to get around the city. Peter and his wife were happy with the basic models, costing about $30 each. But they acquiesced to their teenage sons' demands for something "cooler."

"A year later, the boys are riding our bikes and asking us, somewhat shamefacedly, if they can replace the ones they have," says Peter. "They have found they don't need gears in Beijing, which is flat, and they are fed up with the weight of their mountain bikes. So, you see," he concludes, "the Chinese bicycling tradition has reimposed itself on the Ford family – if not on the average Beijing resident. (see story) "

– David Clark Scott
World editor