Can Motorcycles Go on Elevated Roads?
3 Answers
Motorcycles are generally not allowed on elevated roads, but there is no explicit prohibition for motorcycles to pass on certain elevated interchanges. Below is an extended introduction: Laws and Regulations: The 'Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China' does not explicitly prohibit motorcycles from traveling on highways. It specifies some special regulations for motorcycles on highways, which can be summarized as follows: the speed must not be lower than 60km/h or higher than 80km/h, the driver must wear a safety helmet, no cargo or passengers are allowed, and motorcycles must only travel in the far-right lane.
I was once stopped by traffic police while riding a motorcycle in downtown Shanghai. Those huge no-motorcycle signs at the elevated highway entrances aren't just for show. Major cities across China like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou all prohibit motorcycles on elevated roads. I've heard only some elevated roads in Chongqing allow them. The officer told me accident rates are too high when motorcycles use elevated highways. Once I saw a car changing lanes at an off-ramp knock over a motorcycle, and the following truck almost couldn't stop in time. Plus, the strong crosswinds on elevated roads make two-wheelers prone to losing control. For long trips, it's best to check local regulations first - getting caught usually means a 100-yuan fine and 1 penalty point. Some cities' third-ring expressways don't ban motorcycles though, but always check the signs before entering.
Last year, my friend rode a sports bike onto the Hangzhou elevated highway illegally and got caught by an overhead camera. He thought expressways didn't count as elevated roads, but in most cities, overpasses, tunnels, and flyovers are classified under elevated highway management. Traffic regulations clearly state that motorcycles are unstable vehicles prone to causing rear-end collisions in continuous elevated traffic flow. Especially on rainy days, rubber tires lose traction drastically on metal expansion joints. What's worse, emergency stops are impossible on elevated roads—if the bike breaks down, you'd have to push it for kilometers. Nowadays, I'd rather detour via surface roads and spend an extra 20 minutes than risk fines and penalty points.
