Shenzhen adopts new rules to address e-bicycle challenges

Shenzhen has unveiled two new regulatory guidelines aimed at enhancing electric bicycles within the city, aiming to create a more structured travel environment for residents, balancing diverse transportation modes with a commitment to safety. 

One of the immediate implementations can be seen in the Futian Bonded Zone, where traffic police have converted existing bidirectional lanes on Hongliu Road — between Shihua Road and Taohua Road — into a one-way traffic system, and make space for a 3.5-meter-wide bicycle-exclusive lane featuring clear signage and a central barrier for added protection.

Shenzhen is expanding this model across various districts, including Nanshan, Luohu, Bao‘an, Longhua, and Guangming. The introduction of independent non-motor vehicle lanes utilizes innovative measures such as physical barriers, elevation designs, and separation fences to enhance safety and usability.

In recent years, Shenzhen has made significant strides in constructing new bicycle lanes, achieving an annual growth rate of 300 to 700 kilometers. This initiative is not only providing non-motor vehicles with designated road rights and lanes but also ensuring the safe and uninterrupted flow of motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. 

The city will establish clearly defined road rights for bicycles on roads that currently do not restrict traffic within the next two to three years.

To combat issues related to disorderly parking of non-motorized vehicles, which often block pedestrian pathways, Shenzhen plans to reformulate its overall supply system for non-motor vehicle parking facilities. This strategy includes optimizing the use of parking associated with buildings and exploring available spaces on building setbacks, as well as utilizing surrounding idle spaces and green areas for parking. Proper management of urban road space is targeted to mitigate disorderly occupation of road resources and promote a more organized travel environment.