2016年CRI Beijing to Follow Shenzhen in Limiting Electric Bikes

 

The new regulations issued by Beijing's Traffic Management Bureau ban certain classes of "non-motorized" vehicles from ten local streets.

Starting next week, violators will face a small fine.

Authorities say the rule is meant to help ensure safety and smooth traffic flows.

The move by authorities in Beijing comes just days after officials in the southern city of Shenzhen launched similar regulations.

Liu Xiaoding with the Shenzhen traffic police bureau says their traffic control measures ban or limit electric bikes in many more areas of the city.

"Currently, within the original Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, about 85% of the roads are covered under the regulation, which also covers all major and secondary traffic ways outside the zone. These areas usually have high traffic volume and are situated¹ near major roads, subways and bus stations."

Electric bicycles have become increasingly popular in recent years among Chinese commuters and couriers.

However, many of these electric bikes can match the speeds of motorcycles, which authorities say poses dangers to both the riders and pedestrians².

Last year, accidents involving electric bikes led to 114 deaths in Shenzhen, accounting³ for more than a quarter of the total number of traffic related deaths in that city.

Beijing has reported similar numbers.

However, Shenzhen's measures are being blasted by express courier and other delivery services, which rely mainly on electric bikes.

While Shenzhen's government insists the regulations are not aimed specifically at the delivery sector⁴, the manager of a local express delivery company says his business has been severely⁵ impacted.

"25 or 26 of our electric bikes have been confiscated⁶ by authorities, due to violations⁷ of the traffic control measures. Even our managers now have to go out on delivery trips. Our delivery numbers have been growing steadily⁸ over the past three years. Back then, we moved about 4,000 parcels a day. Now we have 10,000 to deliver."

Addressing this problem, Professor Wang Jingbo from the China University of Political Science and Law says a blanket-ban on electric bicycles doesn't address the overall issue of traffic safety.

"There are things that can be done to ensure traffic safety using other approaches, beyond just banning and limiting certain vehicles. Technology is helping⁹ develop new types of vehicles. But does that mean we have to ban all of them? In terms of developing green transportation, electric bikes are more environmentally-friendly, and also take up less road space than a motorcycle. Traffic accidents are caused by many factors, so simply banning these vehicles from the roads doesn't do much to improve traffic safety."

The ten restricted roads in Beijing include sections of Chang'an avenue and streets around Tian'anmen Square.

The new rules do not affect pedal-powered bicycles.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.

1 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

6 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。