Beijing News: New E-Bike Management Rules Take Effect May 1

When it comes to safety management, the revised regulations represent a clear shift in the city’s approach from strong suggestions and simply raising awareness to active regulation. Below are some notable points of the updated regulations. For the full text of the regulations, search 北京市非机动车管理条例on the website of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau (https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn). The full text includes more complete details on areas covered above, as well as disability wheelchair usage, manufacturer and seller responsibilities, management of public spaces and parking, regulation of online bike rentals and delivery vehicles, legal responsibilities and fines, and more. Production and Sales Relevant authorities and departments will prepare a catalogue of e-bike products. The catalogue will log information such as manufacturer, brand of the product, model of the product, and other relevant technical specifications of the product. The catalogue will be available to the public for checking, and it will be constantly updated with new e-bike products that meet the national product standards and that have obtained the required certification. All e-bikes that are sold, registered and operating on the city’s roads must be consistent with the information noted in the product catalogue. Sellers have a duty to display clearly the product catalogue and legal information for registration. If a consumer purchases an e-bike that is not listed in the product catalogue, then they are entitled to request to return the e-bike or get a replacement. Registration The following non-motor vehicles must be registered and operators of the vehicles must obtain a non-motor vehicle driving license and license plate before the vehicles can be driven on Beijing roads: Electric bicycles/e-bikes Motorized wheelchairs for disabled persons Human-powered three-wheel vehicles and other non-motor vehicles that the Municipal People’s Government stipulates should be registered and receive license plates Applications for registration of non-motor vehicles must be made at the public security traffic management department within 15 days from the date of purchase of the vehicle. Applicants must also “submit the vehicle for on-site inspection and provide proof of ownership, vehicle qualification certificate, purchase certificate, and other proof of vehicle origin.” Assuming the application materials are in order, the vehicle will be registered on the spot with a non-motor vehicle driving license and license plate issued free of charge. The non-motor vehicle driving license and license plate will be valid for a period of ten years, and can be extended upon expiry. A change in owner information or a transfer in ownership requires an application for registration of the information change or transfer within 30 days at the public security traffic management department. Owners of non-motor vehicles that are “lost, destroyed, damaged, returned, or no longer in use” must cancel the vehicle registration. Authorities are tasked with making improvements to the non-motor vehicle registration system, including simplifying procedures, introducing electronic non-motor vehicle licenses, and increasing online registration processing. Traffic Safety Non-motor vehicles must comply with relevant speed regulations and not exceed relevant posted speed limits. At least one hand must be on the vehicle’s handles at a time, and drivers may not hold objects in their hands while riding. Behavior that is distracting or that hinders the safe operation of the vehicle is prohibited. This includes browsing mobile phones or other handheld devices and making or receiving calls in a handheld manner. Non-motor vehicle drivers may not go against the flow of traffic. Non-motor vehicle drivers must obey traffic lights and wait their turn to go in designated areas. Unsafe behaviors such as weaving, sharp turns, racing and holding onto the handlebars of other bikes while moving are prohibited. Operators of e-bikes, bicycles and three-wheeled vehicles must dismount and push their vehicles when traversing pedestrian crossings, pedestrian overpasses and underground passages. Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. Towing, pulling, or being towed by other vehicles is prohibited. Towing animals or human- or other cargo-carrying devices is prohibited. Drivers of road-going non-motor vehicles or motorized wheelchairs must be at least 16 years of age. Adult drivers of non-motor vehicles may carry a minor younger than 16 in the fixed seat behind the driver’s seat. Drivers and passengers of non-motor vehicles must wear helmets that comply with national standards and that have undergone mandatory product certification. Assembling or modifying non-motor vehicles, disabling or modifying safety components, selling assembled or illegally modified non-motor vehicles, and driving such vehicles on the roads is prohibited. Non-motor vehicles are prohibited from operating on pedestrian greenways and waterfront trails. Parking and Charging Non-motor vehicle drivers must park their vehicles in designated parking areas. If none are to be found, the vehicles must be parked in such a way as to “not affect road traffic and urban environmental order.” Non-motor vehicles may not be parked in the following areas: No-parking areas of sidewalks, fire emergency passage areas and tactile paving areas No-parking areas of both motor and non-motor vehicle lanes Prohibited areas, such as road intersections, railway crossings, and entrances and exits of crowded places It is prohibited to bring e-bike batteries into residential buildings. Legal Responsibility Violations of the regulations may incur penalties of varying types and severity, from warnings, monetary fines of a few dozen to a few hundred RMB, or temporary seizure of a vehicle, to permanent seizure of a vehicle or fines of several hundred to several thousand RMB. The severity of the punishment will also depend greatly on the specific regulation violated and the status of the violator as a private individual or a commercial operating entity. For specific information about the legal responsibility related to specific violations, please consult the full text of the regulations. READ: Meet the 16 Guest Vendors Only Available at Juicy Burger Fest Images: Unsplash Provided:Paid: