Electric Bikes to be Banned From 10 Beijing Streets

Electric two-wheeled bikes will be banned from 10 of Beijing’s main thoroughfares starting on Monday, April 11. The new law aims to help reduce traffic and accidents caused by the vehicles, authorities said.

The roads that will be impacted are mainly located in the city center and around Tiananmen Square and include Chang'an Avenue and Fuyou Street. Because many of these roadways see heavy traffic and do not have designated bicycle lanes they are often clogged with electric bikes.

There are reportedly around four million electric bikes in Beijing. Drivers are notorious in the city for disobeying traffic laws, driving on the wrong side of the road and running red lights.

According to traffic authorities, two-wheel electric bikes were involved in over 31,000 accidents last year. With this new law authorities hope to reduce these numbers.

Drivers who are caught breaking the traffic law will be fined RMB20, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau said. And those who refuse to pay the fine will have their vehicles confiscated.