Electric and Gas scooters banned?
hello.
I have a gas scooter and I was about to change it for an electric, because I can t stand the noise anymore. When I asked my Ayi, she told me that all scooters gas and electric are going to be banned in Zhuhai on the 16th of May.
Is this true? Why? And how are people going to get around without them? We re not in HK where the subway and bus are amazing.
Actually legally the gas and electric scooters were banned in Zhuhai for a very long time. Perhaps your ayi means the law will be reinforced again from May 16th - not sure. There was a thread a year or so back on this subject, you can use search to find it. People still use electric scooters but from time to time the get confiscated by the police. And people are even stopped because of riding them in the city.
I hope they enforce the ban this time! I hate the attitude of the people on those electric scooters.. they have no regard for pedestrians ..
Personally I'd prefer to see them unbanned (is that a proper word?) but regulated properly. They're much more environmentally friendly than cars, and in my experience most car drivers have little regard for pedestrians either. The vast majority of cars I see in Zhuhai have only one occupant, so they could easily use a scooter instead, having less impact on the environment, both global and local.
Whenever I go to Zhongshan or Macau I see scooters using the roads alongside cars, not forced to use the pavements or other pedestrian areas as they often seem to be in Zhuhai. Also the riders tend to use helmets much more. Bring them back I say, but make them use the roads, wear helmets, and have the police enforce the laws which are supposed to make life safer for all of us.
While I’m in rant mode, what’s with people who insist on using the cycle lanes to walk on, especially on Lovers Road, instead of the perfectly usable pedestrian paths which are right beside them? I’m sick of having to slow down to a near stop and ring my bell to alert groups of pedestrians who are hogging the cycle lane while the pathways next to them are empty!
if only they would enforce other traffic laws as well
Blaring horns in the city..... 3 wheeled trikes ripping around in the middle of the night......cars with no mufflers, loud music pumping from electronics shops..... music on the bus, in carrefour, Aaggghhhhhhh! Drives me insane, but the Chinese seem to not notice. So when I complain,they either think i'm weird, or they see my complaint as futile
Electric scooters would be alright if they didnt toot the horn constantly and actually stayed in a proper lane. But the govt banned em I guess cuz they know ppl will break the rules.
Carry a baseball bat when you cross a street, and swing it on each side of you. . I guarantee you the car drivers will instantly give you more respect.
Toby, you keep mentioning the baseball bat. Do you actually carry one yourself? :-)
I never need one, Cheeks. Maybe it's the attitude that goes along with the imaginary bat that tells drivers I am not in the mood for nonsense. I have never had a car brush close to me; if one comes close I stand and glare, and that seems to do the trick.
Of course, I am also ready to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. But if that happened, I would definitely be in that intersections the next day, bat in hand.
Righting the balance between drivers and pedestrians is my good-citizen deed for the day.
I don't know how many of the 1,3 billion people here have a drivers license, however, it will take many days of looking mean at the junction before the streets will be safe.
OK, let's do our civic duty. At 11 AM tomorrow everyone find an intersection and look severe!!!!!!
I forgot to mention, Cheekie, that a long-handle umbrella with a conspicuous steel tip gets respect from drivers who don't want their paintwork marked -- by accident of course..
I normally don't have problems on the road. I stop the cars when I cross the street by putting my hand out in a sign STOP. Buses too. Stops them alright. I also don't jump in front of the cars like some pedestrians try to do - I make sure the distance is safe enough for me to cross. And in Jida usually there aren't that many scooters and bikes.
A sensible, balanced approach. No wonder women rule the world.
Just have new rule: If illegal scooter is involve in any sort of accident, scooter driver assume all responsibility including criminal and civil liabilities. Let see they try to cut in front traffic now.
Toby. Have you noticed that as of September 1st there is a 100RMB fine and you loose a point on your drivers license for not stopping for pedestrians at pedestrian crossings? Maybe one day angry looking foreigners with baseball bat in hand will be extinct.
Did anyone spot any change in amounts of scooters in the central areas of the city ?
it increased? By the way, not many people including the policemen seem to know of that rule - just day before yesterday a police bike didn't even slow down and flew by right in front of me with high speed even though i was half way across the street with a pram and a young child next to me :)