Editor’s Note

In the past two weeks, a decision by Shenzhen police to ban electric bikes throughout the city except in Guangming and Pingshan new zones and four remote subdistricts in Longgang District has aroused great public concern.

The phrase “electric bike ban” has become a hot topic for netizens.

A survey conducted by the Shenzhen office of the Guangdong Bikes and Electric Bikes Association of 4,000 residents, electric bike retailers and riders show that 80 percent of them oppose the ban because it would greatly affect the daily lives of many people.

At least 500,000 electric bike riders are affected during the restriction period between June 6 to Dec. 5.

In the past two weeks, a decision by Shenzhen police to ban electric bikes throughout the city except in Guangming and Pingshan new zones and four remote subdistricts in Longgang District has aroused great public concern.

The phrase “electric bike ban” has become a hot topic for netizens.

A survey conducted by the Shenzhen office of the Guangdong Bikes and Electric Bikes Association of 4,000 residents, electric bike retailers and riders show that 80 percent of them oppose the ban because it would greatly affect the daily lives of many people.

At least 500,000 electric bike riders are affected during the restriction period between June 6 to Dec. 5.

Han Ximin

LIU JINGONG, a migrant worker in Nanshan District, has been making a living delivering gas cylinders to households on his electric bike for six years. Each day he delivers 20 cylinders in Nanshan District. He bought his electric bike for 1,300 yuan (US$200).

But Liu was recently upset when he learned police would ban electric bikes from June 6.

“I’m no longer strong and healthy and it is unrealistic for me to deliver cylinders on a bicycle. But if I was caught riding an electric bike, I would either be fined 200 yuan or have my electric bike confiscated, which would be a disaster,” Liu said last week.

He was among 10 cylinder deliverymen working for the Nanshan LPG Service Station.

“Police could limit the speed, designate special lanes for electric bikes, instead of banning them, because some delivery businesses such as postal and carrier services and fast-food and water deliveries heavily rely on electric bikes,” said Liu.

Business at electric bike shops along Nanxin Road fell recently after the ban was announced. “I could sell 100 electric bikes a month in previous years but in May I sold only five,” said Guo, who has owned an electric bike shop for seven years.

His electric bikes generally sell for 1,000 to 1,300 yuan each. The low cost and convenience of electric bikes are favored by low-income families and migrant workers.

“Police can’t ban electric bikes whenever they like. What will I do with my electric bikes? Electric bike retailers and users are now victims of the ban,” said a resident named Zhou who commutes to work in Shekou port on his bike.

“When electric bikes first appeared, standards and rules should have been implemented to govern them. The government responded slowly and allowed them to become rampant. They shouldn’t ban them as an excuse. Who will be responsible for the loss of the users?” Zhou asked.

“We support a ban on illegal taxis using electric bikes but oppose a ban on electric bikes for those who use them to commute or carry things,” Zhou said.

The ban is expected to hit logistics and couriers hard because they rely on electric bikes to collect and deliver postal material and parcels.

They are facing an increase in operating costs if they replace electric bikes with small vans. A small company can’t afford vans and bicycles would be inefficient.

“I can’t think of any other form of transport other than electric bikes which are suitable for delivering or collecting mail,” said Chen, manager of the Nanshan Outlet of ZTO Express.

There were more than 60 express delivery companies in Shenzhen and the ban would mean a backlog in parcels. Each delivery man can deliver about 30 kg of parcels each day, traveling about 50 kilometers, he said.

“The authorities should consider granting permits or certificates to certain industries which rely on electric bikes such as the courier and catering industries,” said Chen.Traffic police in an operation examing electric bikes in Shenzhen yesterday.