What does it mean to not use the non-motorized vehicle lane?
4 Answers
It means motor vehicles are not allowed to use the non-motorized vehicle lane. The non-motorized vehicle lane is a separate lane designated for non-motorized vehicles. Driving a motor vehicle in the non-motorized vehicle lane or using it to make a right turn constitutes not driving in the designated lane, which violates the provisions of the Road Traffic Safety Law: where special lanes are designated on the road, only specified vehicles are allowed to travel within the special lanes, and other vehicles are not allowed to enter the special lanes. No penalty will be imposed for temporarily using the non-motorized vehicle lane to detour under special circumstances, as detailed below: 1. There is a dotted line between the non-motorized vehicle lane and the right-turn lane. 2. There are clear signs beside the non-motorized vehicle lane indicating that borrowing the lane is allowed. 3. Vehicles can use the auxiliary lane to make a right turn where auxiliary lane passage is permitted. 4. If traffic police on-site direct vehicles to use the non-motorized vehicle lane or require a right turn from the non-motorized vehicle lane, follow the arrangements of the traffic police.
Recently, I've noticed many pedestrians walking on the bicycle lanes, which is actually quite dangerous. The so-called 'not using non-motorized vehicle lanes' refers to pedestrians who should be walking on the sidewalks but instead venture into lanes designated for bicycles and electric scooters. Near my residential area, this happens frequently, especially during rush hours when sidewalks are crowded—some people take the shortcut onto the bicycle lanes for convenience. However, non-motorized vehicle lanes can have speeds up to 40 km/h, and if a pedestrian suddenly steps out, cyclists can't brake in time. Last week, an accident occurred in our community where a pedestrian suffered a fracture, and the electric scooter rider had to pay tens of thousands in medical compensation. I believe the key issue is safety habits—it's better to take a few extra steps and use the sidewalk rather than risking personal safety.
Yesterday, while taking my child to school, I made a point to teach him about traffic signs. Not walking in the non-motorized vehicle lane means pedestrians shouldn’t occupy the bike-only lane, which is actually a violation just like running a red light. For example, when crossing the street, if someone sees the sidewalk blocked, they might detour onto the non-motorized lane, making them vulnerable to sudden turns by e-bikes. The scariest incident I’ve seen was near a mall entrance—an elderly lady was slowly walking with her shopping cart in the bike lane when a delivery rider zoomed past from behind, knocking the cart over. Now, traffic regulations impose a 20-yuan fine for such behavior. My advice: when walking along the road, pay attention to the ground markings. A red-and-white striped lane with arrows indicates an exclusive lane—don’t step on it.
I used to make the same mistake. That time I was in a hurry and took a shortcut by cutting across the bike lane, only to be stopped by traffic police who lectured me for quite a while. That's when I realized how strictly lanes are divided: motor vehicles go on vehicle lanes, bike lanes are exclusively for bicycles and e-bikes, while pedestrians should only use sidewalks or crosswalks. Mixing them up is particularly dangerous, especially when visibility is poor at night. Now I'm extra careful when going out - whenever I see bicycle symbols painted on the road, I make a detour. This way it's safer and doesn't inconvenience cyclists, after all, everyone's just trying to get by.
