The dos and don'ts of riding e-bikes in Shanghai

Following the central government's call for green travel and a low-carbon lifestyle, an increasing number of people are opting for electric mopeds as a mode of transportation. But how to choose and register an electric moped, as well as what to do and not do when riding one? Here are some tips for you.

1. Purchase

When buying an electric moped, you need to pay attention to the following:

• Check if there is a CCC certification mark.

The China Compulsory Certificate mark, commonly known as a CCC or 3C mark, is a compulsory safety mark for many products imported, sold or used in the Chinese market.

It is used for electric mopeds as well.

Consumers should check whether the mopeds have 3C labels and avoid buying those without the mark.

• Check the appearance.

Check whether the surface of the painted and electroplated parts is intact and whether it has pedals.

Illegal assembly and modification pose hidden dangers and are not allowed.

To distinguish the illegally assembled and modified ones from the standard ones, one can compare the real product with its design and the original types and indexes of the motor, controller and accumulator.

• Ride the moped and check how it works.

Consumers should try the moped and ensure that all parts work well.

The speed adjustment transition should be smooth, the wheel rotation should be flexible, the wheel hub should rotate softly without abnormal noise and the brake should be moderately tight and reliable.

If the model has auxiliary functions such as power display, speed and mileage display, check whether they work normally.

• Check whether the moped has supporting accessories, charger, certificate, manual and warranty card.

2. Registration

Electric mopeds can only be used on the road after registration and getting the license.

For new mopeds, buyers can use the purchase certificate to ride temporarily for 15 days. To get the vehicles formally registered, owners need to make an appointment on the "Shanghai Traffic Police" (上海交警) app first and visit the local traffic police station to complete the registration process.

If electric mopeds with license plates from other provinces and cities are used in Shanghai, the owners must obtain a Shanghai non-motor vehicle license plate.

Mopeds with no 3C marks can not be registered, and those used for express and delivery services require a special plate.

3. License plate

The license plate should be installed at the designated area and should be kept clear and intact.

It is prohibited to forge, alter the plate, or use forged or altered license plates. Do not use plates of other mopeds.

4. General rules

• The rider must be over 16 years old.

• The speed should not exceed 15 kilometers per hour.

• Turn on the lighting device when riding at night or in low-visibility conditions such as fog, rain, snow, sandstorms or hail.

• Do not honk for long periods of time.

• Riders must wear helmets. Violators will be given a warning first or fined 20 to 50 yuan (US$2.74-6.85).

5. Safety regulations

When driving an electric bicycle on the road, you must comply with the transport safety laws:

• Make sure the safety facilities, such as brakes and night-reflective devices, work well.

• Follow traffic signals.

• Ride in non-motorized lanes. On roads without designated non-motorized lanes, electric mopeds must run within 1.5 meters to the left of the right edge of the roadway.

• Do not ride in the opposite direction.

• Unless it is legally allowed, you must not ride in the motor vehicle lane.

• Do not ride into highways, urban expressways (including elevated roads), cross-river bridges and tunnels, or other areas where non-motorized vehicles are prohibited.

• Slow down, stop and give way to pedestrians crossing the road at crosswalks. Allow pedestrians to cross non-traffic signal roads.

• Slow down before turning, gesture with a sign and turn on the left or right lights. When overtaking, do not hinder the other rider.

• Do not use hand-held devices to make or receive calls or watch things on electronic devices.

• Do not carry animals while riding. Containers with people or other objects cannot be towed.

• When passing through an intersection, right-turning non-motorized vehicles should give way to left-turning non-motorized vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.

It is prohibited to ride assembled, retrofitted or modified electric mopeds. Carrying explosives, flammable and explosive chemicals, highly toxic, radioactive and other dangerous goods are also banned.

Anyone who illegally modifies, dismantles, alters the motor or removes the speed-limiting device will be liable for accident-related compensation.

6. Pillion rider

• A rider may take one minor under the age of 12 on the moped.

• When riding an electric moped with a minor under the age of 6, a fixed seat must be used. Anyone who violates the regulations will receive a warning or a fine ranging from 5 to 50 yuan.

A mother carries her young son on an electric moped.

7. Regulations on the use of 

e-mopeds

Organizations and individuals are prohibited from:

• Assembling electric mopeds.

• Adding seats, umbrellas, hoods and high-decibel speakers.

• Replacing batteries and other power devices without authorization.

• Removing or modifying the silencer, speed beep and speed-limiting device.

• Other installation and modification that can change the technical parameters.

8. Cargo

• The height of the moped with luggage should not exceed 1.5 meters, and the width of the cargo must not exceed 0.15m beyond the handlebars. The length of cargo should not exceed the wheels at the front and rear of the moped by 0.3m.

• Riders must ensure that goods from the cargo do not scatter or float, which could disrupt road traffic.

9. Parking

Electric mopeds should be parked in non-motor vehicle spaces.

-End-

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Editor: Liu Xiaolin
Designer: Zhang Chaoyan

Writer: Ke Jiayun

Photo: Ti Gong, IC

Source: City News Service

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