The management of electric bikes is becoming an increasingly intricate challenge for city administrators across the country, largely due to the staggering rise in these two-wheelers. Recent statistics indicate that by the close of last year, there were a staggering 350 million electric bikes in circulation, equating to an average of one e-bike for approximately every four Chinese nationals. In bustling urban centers such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, the streets teem with e-bikes, each city boasting over 5 million of these vehicles.
Electric bikes have transformed the urban landscape, serving as a vital lifeline for delivery personnel and providing commuters with a more convenient mode of transport. However, this surge in e-bike usage has also contributed significantly to the alarming increase in road accidents. A thorough investigation conducted by hospitals in Guangzhou revealed that between 60 and 70 percent of serious injuries related to traffic incidents involve e-bikes. The situation is even more dire in Jiangsu province, with e-bike-related accidents accounting for 70 percent of all traffic mishaps. Nationally, the rate of traffic accidents involving e-bikes has escalated by more than 8 percent annually over the past decade.
While the burgeoning number of e-bikes largely explains the rise in traffic accidents—over 40 million e-bikes are sold each year—the actions of e-bike owners complicate the situation. Many riders illegally retrofit their vehicles to exceed legal speed limits, and both negligence and blatant violations of traffic rules further exacerbate the problem.
In China, e-bikes are classified as non-motorized vehicles, meaning traffic regulations cap their speed at 25 kilometers per hour. Yet, despite this limit, numerous individuals modify their e-bikes to reach speeds of 50 to 60 km per hour, and in some extreme cases, one offender was apprehended while riding a retrofitted e-bike that zoomed past at over 100 km per hour. Moreover, e-bike operators aren’t required to possess a driver’s license, resulting in many being unaware of traffic regulations. Even those who are informed often choose to disregard the rules, operating under the misguided belief that they won't be caught for their infractions.
As law-abiding citizens, we find ourselves constantly vigilant, always glancing left and right to ensure no speeding e-bike is hurtling toward us as we attempt to cross the road. We must give way to e-bike riders, who breeze past silently at terrifying speeds, too many of whom choose to flout the very traffic rules designed to keep everyone safe. The existence of reckless riders not only puts us at risk but also endangers our own lives.
While we can take precautions to avoid collisions with e-bikes on the streets, we are left grappling with another peril— the chaos of parked e-bikes that clutter our neighborhoods. A recent investigative report by Xinhua unveiled that last year, the National Fire and Rescue Administration received approximately 21,000 fire reports linked to e-bikes. Alarmingly, 3,243 of these fires occurred while e-bike batteries were being charged. Spot-checks revealed that 22 percent of the e-bike batteries being used were substandard. Disturbingly, the report indicated that 90 percent of the fires originated from e-bikes either parked or being charged in building corridors or within residential apartments.
As if to emphasize the danger, our building has posted harrowing images in the elevators, showcasing e-bikes bursting into flames, accompanied by stark warnings prohibiting the transport of e-bikes and their batteries into the apartment complex. These graphic visuals instill a palpable sense of fear, giving the impression that we coexist with potential bombs that could explode at any moment.
The proliferation of substandard e-bikes has been attributed to the operation of dubious manufacturers and sellers. With millions of these unreliable e-bikes navigating the bustling streets, it should not be insurmountable for market supervisors and security officers to identify these shady entities and hold them accountable for their actions.
It is heartening to learn that, starting this month, relevant authorities have implemented stricter product admission standards for e-bikes, urging the industry to enhance its operational regulations. Additionally, traffic control departments in numerous cities have vowed to crack down on offenses related to e-bike use.
I sincerely hope that these measures will allow us to cross streets without the looming fear of being struck by a reckless, speeding e-bike.
Post a Comment