Can you ride motorcycles in Beijing?
2 Answers
Motorcycles are allowed in urban areas of Beijing, but they cannot be ridden in restricted zones within the city. According to Article 1 of the "Notice on Traffic Management Measures for Motorcycles," the following roads are prohibited for motorcycle traffic at all times: Chang'an Avenue and its extension (from Wukesong Bridge to Sihui Bridge), East Side Road of Tiananmen Square, West Side Road of Tiananmen Square, West Road of the Great Hall of the People, Fuyou Street, South Chang Street, North Chang Street, South Chi Zi Street, and North Chi Zi Street. Xisi East Street: Xisi East Street, Xi'anmen Street (from Xisi South Street to Xishiku Street), West Huangchenggen North Street, and West Huangchenggen South Street. Article 2 states that roads within the Fourth Ring Road (excluding auxiliary roads) are prohibited for motorcycles with Jing B license plates at all times.
Riding motorcycles in Beijing is technically allowed, but you really can't ride recklessly—the urban areas are strictly regulated. I lived in Tongzhou for a few years, and riding a motorcycle to the suburbs for leisure was fine. However, once you enter within the Fifth Ring Road, you have to be cautious—motorcycles with Jing B license plates aren’t even permitted inside. For ordinary people like me, getting a license plate is a hassle, requiring multiple trips to the traffic management bureau, long wait times, and often missing documents. Safety is the biggest concern—city traffic is too congested, making motorcycles prone to accidents. It’s safer and more convenient to just take the subway. My advice? If you want to ride, live farther out, like in Fangshan or Changping, where the roads are wider and more comfortable for riding. In the city, just stick to shared bikes. Honestly, Beijing’s traffic policies aim to reduce congestion and pollution, and the fines for violations are pretty steep.
