Title: Unconventional Means of Transportation: Electric Wheelchair Trend Takes Over Streets of Guangzhou
Date: July 9, 2023
Comprehensive report by our reporter Yang Zheng
Guangzhou has recently witnessed an unusual spectacle with an increasing number of young individuals whizzing around the city streets on electric wheelchairs. The sight of able-bodied youths navigating these wheelchairs has captured the attention of the Chinese internet, sparking discussions and debates.
According to internet sources, these young people have embraced electric wheelchairs as their preferred mode of transportation. Some use them for daily commutes, while others utilize them for shopping, dining out, and even purposely taking the subway. Joining forces for “wheelchair racing” has also become a popular trend among this group.
When questioned about their unusual choice of transportation, these individuals openly admitted that it was a direct result of strict control measures imposed on electric bicycles since July 1. They explained that the traffic police pay little attention to electric wheelchairs, eliminating the need to wear helmets or search for parking spaces. They find it “very convenient” since the new regulations do not restrict their movement.
Guangzhou City’s new regulations, effective July 1, prohibit electric bicycles from being equipped with rearview mirrors and carrying children taller than 120 centimeters. Additionally, the regulations dictate that electric bicycles must acquire license plates, riders must wear safety helmets, and adhere to a speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour. Certain roads are entirely off-limits during specific times.
These regulations have faced public criticism, with some individuals even calling for protests. However, authorities swiftly suppressed these calls for action under the guise of “stability maintenance,” leaving dissenters powerless.
Chinese netizens have pointed out that electric bicycles are a popular means of transportation in Guangzhou and play a crucial role in the city’s daily commute. While regulations can bring order to the traffic situation, the new policies have diminished the convenience associated with electric bicycles. Unable to protest against these rules, people have turned to using electric wheelchairs, currently unregulated, as an alternative means of protest.
Nevertheless, concerns have arisen among some residents of Guangzhou who fear that electric wheelchairs could also face management controls in the future.
According to a report from Zhongxin Finance, the first half of this year witnessed a staggering 60% annual growth rate in orders for electric wheelchairs.
As the popularity of this unconventional trend surges in Guangzhou, one can only wonder how authorities will respond and if further regulations will be introduced to address the use of electric wheelchairs on the city streets.
Editor in charge: Lin Li
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