Rental bikes on the street. [Photo by Guo Yiming/China.org.cn]

Supervisors and law experts have called for better supervision on shared bikes and more parental guidance for children following the death of a child riding a shared bike in Shanghai.

On Sunday, an elementary school boy, riding an Ofo shared bike, died after being hit by a bus in Shanghai.

Ofo issued a statement on Tuesday pledging to assist the police investigation related to the death. The company said it is working on an effective prevention mechanism to prevent children under 12 years old from using shared bikes.

Chinese national road safety law requires a person to be 12 years old or older in order to ride a bicycle or tricycle.

However, with a growing number of shared bikes on the streets, children under 12 years old have become frequent users. If a user forgets or fails to lock an Ofo bike after use, for example, it is free for the next user to use, even if the rider has not registered for an account via smart phone.

Guo Jianrong, general secretary of the Shanghai Bicycle Industry Association, said the association has required Ofo to place smart locks on its bikes. Ofo’s chief rival, Mobike, uses smart locks that can only be unlocked using a phone.

“Rules need to be established to supervise the use of shared bikes,” said Liu Chunyan, a law expert at Tongji University.

“If an accident happens because of the quality of a bicycle, for example, a brake failure, the company should be held liable. In other cases, the company is not at fault,” Liu said.

Cui Minyan, China division chief of Safe Kids Worldwide, said parents should give more guidance to their children regarding shared bikes.

“Parents may underestimate the danger of road traffic and think their children have good bicycle skills. The absence of guidance may easily lead to tragedies,” Cui said.

The cremation of Wan Guoquan, former vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, was held Tuesday, with Chinese leaders paying their respects at the funeral in Beijing.

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Zhang Gaoli, as well as Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao either visited Wan when he was in hospital or extended their condolences after his death.

Xi Jinping, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Zhang Gaoli, as well as Hu Jintao attended the funeral at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.

They stood in silent tribute and bowed three times in front of Wan’s body. They also offered Wan’s family their condolences.

Wan was also executive vice-chairman and honorary vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, one of China’s eight non-communist parties.

Wan died on March 23 at the age of 99.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has said the ongoing education campaign on Party management should be institutionalized.

According to a circular issued by the general office of the CPC Central Committee made public on Tuesday, the campaign was launched in 2016 and focuses on the study of the Party Constitution and code of conduct, as well as the speeches made by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

A series of remarks made by Xi are the latest achievements in the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and they mark the latest development of contemporary Marxism in China, it said.

The remarks are considered important thought for Party building and advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, it said, adding that they will also serve as guiding principles for all Party organizations and members.

Party organizations at various levels should fully realize the importance of institutionalizing the campaign and put ideological education high on their agendas, it said.

Efforts should be made to standardize actions of Party organizations and members in accordance with the Party Constitution and code of conduct.Efforts should also be made to ensure Party organizations fully play their roles and leading officials are clean, honest and bold in assuming responsibilities.

Party organizations should evaluate results of the campaign annually, it said.

The circular asked Party committees at all levels to lead grassroots Party organizations and members to unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core.

Party committees at all levels should make annual study schedules while leading officials should have their own individual study plans, it noted.

Party organizations should guide members to strengthen their ideals and beliefs, implement the Party’s decisions and observe Party discipline and rules, according to the statement.

Those who fail to act accordingly will be criticized seriously or held accountable, the document added.