If you’ve ever been to China and hell, even if you haven’t, you’d know that there’s an uncountable amount of people there. And all those people have to get around somehow! The bulk of people use regular bicycles (which are fine, just not as fast) and many more are starting to use cars (which with the sheer number of people, is going to rage hell on the environment and traffic). Electric bikes existed in some sort of bizarro purgatory – it was a great compromise but with so many accidents, the silence of electric bikes was beginning to be viewed as dangerous.
Thus, the ban.
Which, I think is a terrible cop out by the Chinese government. According to the New Yorker, the decision to ban electric bikes was made with little to no public input (surprise, surprise I guess). I know, I know, accidents were caused by these bikes but China should’ve done more research and testing, they could’ve implemented a digital sound in the bikes, they could’ve done anything and it would be better than this! An out and out ban is irresponsibly rash and incredibly short sighted – especially for a country that still needs to figure out their transportation issues. Electric bikes are usually a good thing, guys. [New Yorker[
Image: Nataliya Hora/Shutterstock.com
China
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 1:28 PMCreate pathway for electric bike, not ban them. This is excuse to sell more gas vehicles, monopoly and they can’t control having freedom to purchase electric bikes. Someone in CCP connected companies are making profit from this decision!!
wsDK_II - Anon and Lulz participant
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 1:28 PMwhat is wrong with removing the weakest links from society?
Chris
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 1:32 PMSeriously?
These people never heard of looking both ways?
John
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:03 PMIts true that cyclists are dangerous. I have just spent 2 years working in London and I’d have a near miss experience at least once a week. You cannot hear them and they are hard to spot, they come from all directions, they don’t obey the rules of the road (i.e. stopping at traffic lights) and are quite likely to be riding on the pavement at times.
Will
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:31 PMSo this supposed world power has never heard of a clothespin and some playing cards? My bicycle sounded like a Harley-Davidson when I was 8. @John, if they buzz you, push them over. It works every time.
Mat
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 3:52 PMLove it! This was my first thought too.
Mark
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:40 PMOr they could you know…add a bell or horn.
Jim
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:46 PMI smells an Electric Bike Ringtone market opportunity.
Licensed Harley engine noise anyone?
ozdavo
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:54 PMHow many of these were really caused by pedestrians wearing ipods (or other music devices), and not hearing the bikes coming…
ozoneocean
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 3:21 PMBetter off banning cars there. Seriously- far more dangerous and harmful on multiple levels in every country that has them, without exception.
Stuart
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 3:23 PMWhat are the chances that in the next Great Decree, the owners of these bikes will have to plug them into the grid and pedal-generate power for their sins (and boiled rice).
Marco
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 3:32 PMI’ve been and lived in China. Trust me. It is not the bikes that are causing the problems. Its the people. Due to the laws if a vehicale hits a padestrian, the driver is auto matically at fault. So the Pedestrians just go about throwing themselves at cars in order to recieve compensation (Happened to many people I know). So banning a enviromentally green technology (Presumming that the bikes doesn’t leak mercury, cause cancer etc) is another stupid thing the world (CHINA) is doing.
Roland
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 3:35 PMgood old paddlepop sticks for the spokes? :-P
olearymo
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 4:53 PMUm, don’t… don’t manual, pedal bikes make even LESS noise?
Craig Breton
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 4:59 PMSeriously what is with that country? Its just one thing after another… What good do they do??
Wayne van Wijk
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 8:48 PM“…what good do they do?”
They make electric bikes. That is pretty good – unless you plan on using one in China.
creamy
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 10:20 PMuuuhhh, they make very cheap things
ChemZ
Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 3:34 AMOh I dunno… maybe they made practically *everything* in your home right now? =P
“Made in China” baby!
The Joker
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 6:01 PMWhat’s the sound of a reversing beeper going forward…??
Jordz
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 10:43 PMHow about spoky doky’s? Anyone remember that monstrosity from the 80′s?
Pete
Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 12:10 AMHere’s a novel concept…teach these people how to drive! Seriously. And I’m not talking about just cars, but all motorists need to learn to drive and ride safely. I’ve been to Shenzen as well as other parts of China. They are terrible drivers. They don’t respect traffic lanes and take an aggressive approach on the road. Any motor vehicle can be turned into a weapon. It’s that whole dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, and life is cheap mentality.
Laz
Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 12:31 AMStop, stop, stop. No legislation is needed. Just re-teach people to *look* before they cross/merge.
Deaf people do it every day and survive.
DeathByBicycle
Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 5:24 AMIs this what you call communism China? Weak excuse.
It used to be these things that were done right.