Are Electric Tricycles Allowed on the Road?
2 Answers
Electric tricycles are allowed on the road. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China", the following provisions apply: Article 18: Non-motorized vehicles that are required to be registered by law may only be driven on the road after being registered by the traffic management department of the public security organ. The types of non-motorized vehicles that are required to be registered by law shall be specified by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government based on local conditions. The dimensions, mass, brakes, bells, and night-time reflective devices of non-motorized vehicles shall comply with the safety technical standards for non-motorized vehicles. Article 36: Based on road conditions and traffic needs, roads are divided into motor vehicle lanes, non-motor vehicle lanes, and sidewalks. Motor vehicles, non-motorized vehicles, and pedestrians shall travel in their respective lanes. Where motor vehicle lanes, non-motorized vehicle lanes, and sidewalks are not divided, motor vehicles shall travel in the middle of the road, while non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians shall travel on both sides of the road.
I bought an electric tricycle last year, which is quite convenient for hauling goods or picking up kids in the city. However, you can't just drive it on the road freely—it depends on local regulations. For instance, in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, the rules are strict. You need to register it at the vehicle management office and have a driver's license; otherwise, you might face fines or have the vehicle impounded. In my hometown, a smaller county town, the rules are more relaxed, and short-distance travel isn’t a big issue. Safety is also important—don’t drive too fast, avoid overcharging the battery, and regularly check the brakes and lights. Some of my friends didn’t know the rules and got fined, so I’d suggest checking the local traffic regulations before buying to avoid trouble.
