By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Riding scooters in panyu
I want to buy a 150cc bike to get work on in morning, i am worried if i dont have proper license police will pull me, I only have my UK license. Has anyone had any problems riding a scooter on the highway in Panyu as a foreigner.
7 years 32 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Your question may seek a simple answer, but it is really complicated.
First, if you are stopped by Traffic Ploice and have no license, the bike will be confiscated, and you may end detained, and then investigated about compliance with all petty laws and regulations existing.
Second, in many provinces in China, bikes are not allowed on some highways. I have no idea of the situation in Panyu.
And third, in China, foreign country driver licenses have no recognition, and will not be accepted as valid. . And that includes the International Driver License, since China chose not to sign the agreement.
So, buy an electrical one, I have seen one with a battery good for 140 Kms per charge. .
A foreigner riding unlicensed on the highway in China. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Highway patrols are rare and other than the occasional checkpoint where they check everyone the chances of being stopped are slim.
Wear a full-face helmet and go incognito.
Should the unspeakable happen and there is a checkpoint or heaven forbid a traffic incident (monetary compensation - medical bills - chinese hospitals - invalid insurance), the harmonious unicorn will ride you.
Penalties may vary according to the individual officer from:
(a) 'nothing to see here, move along',
(b) confiscate your bike and start walking, or
(c) if they go to the letter of the law: detention (7 days + depending upon the circumstances and mood of the officer) - criminal record (yes, it is a crime in China) followed by the possibility of it affecting your visa due to your criminal record.
(d) a free trip to Gz airport (after detention) and nice seeing you, bye bye, come again in 5 years.
Good luck with it.
http://www.shenzhenstuff.com/video/the-e-bike
http://www.shenzhenstuff.com/video/the-new-bike
this is what I ride
I rode a motorcycle (Honda CBR 150cc) in a lower tier city for 2 years, they don't care. Lower tiered cities work more on guanxi and bribes because they aren't as strictly monitored.
If you get a motorized scooter or motorcycle... you will most likely be pulled over if you don't have any plates. My motorcycle had plates through Guanxi so I never got pulled over. They just assumed, if you got plates... you must have a license.
I do NOT have a license to ride a motorcycle in China but I do have a license to ride a motorcycle in Canada. I even took a course... They wouldn't accept it, but things are wishy washy in China... and I could probably find a way for them to just accept it in my city.
Anyway, if you don't have guanxi or a method to get plates... you may be still be "okay" in a smaller city. I would just suggest getting an ebike like others have mentioned above and you won't have to worry about inner-city travel (other than the traffic) and getting pulled over. Some cities have laws against eBikes, you you should ask about that.
Just buy a legal one. Having one you're not licensed to ride or is not legal in your city is not worth the hassle.
I used to live in Shanghai and basically everyone had scooters that were not technically legal, but nothing ever happened until a foreigner killed a local in a scooter accident. They of course responded with a massive crackdown on foreigners with scooters (ignoring the millions of locals in the same boat). Having been stopped and finned several times and even threatened with jail, I decided it's not worth it and sold it.
Just get a e-bike otherwise every time you go out you'll worry and stress about it. It's not worth it!