In late August Beijing cracked down on unlicensed motorcycles, electronic bikes and rickshaws on its roads, promising those without proper documentation arrest, fines, confiscation or even deportation. The owner of a popular bike repair shop located on Gulou Xidajie estimated his business has plummeted 90 percent since the crackdown started.
“Maybe I’ll continue to open my shop tomorrow, or the next month, but if business doesn’t get a good recovery then I will give up,” the 26-year-old owner said. “I hate to give up, but it’s the reality.”
Prior to the crackdown, the Hebei man said he earned approximately RMB2-3,000 per day with repairs, but now, on good days, he’ll earn about RMB2-300. His shop is located within the Second Ring Road – an area that’s seen a heavy police presence targeting unlicensed riders – and he views the crackdown as an assault against Beijing’s poorer class.
Indeed, the reasoning behind the launch isn’t rock solid. Beijing claims that motorcycles create air pollution, their drivers don’t follow traffic laws and some rogue bandits are even using these bikes for highway – or in this case, hutong – robbery. In 2013, traffic accidents involving motorcycles were blamed for 70 accidents in Beijing, and killed 78 people. Cutting down on unlicensed drivers will apparently stop these wild, two-wheeled outlaws from terrorizing our capital. Huzzah?
But not all motorcycles, rickshaws or electronic bikes qualify for a license, the repair shopowner said. Individuals with motorcycles made in China under foreign branding, such as Kawasaki, Yamaha or Engage, will be left taking the subway.
“The most common customer of the motorcycles is normal people... poor people and you should support the poor people to make their better life,” the shopowner said. “I think a good government should support poor people, rather than rich people. I think that’s what this crackdown is about on motorcycles in China.”
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