What is the driving range of Shanghai blue license plate motorcycles?
2 Answers
Driving is permitted outside the following areas: Two-wheeled motorcycles are prohibited from traveling on roads within the Huangpu, Xuhui, Changning, Jing'an, Putuo, Hongkou, and Yangpu districts of the city, as well as certain areas of Pudong New Area, including: Roads within certain areas of Pudong New Area, encompassing the regions bounded by South Pudong Road—Dongchang Road and the Huangpu River shoreline (excluding the aforementioned roads); and the areas bounded by South Yanggao Road—Huamu Road—Jinxiu Road—Minsheng Road—Middle Yanggao Road (excluding the aforementioned roads). The difference between blue and yellow license plate motorcycles: Different displacement: Motorcycles with a displacement above 50CC are issued yellow plates, while those with a displacement of 50CC or below are issued blue plates. Different driver's licenses: Yellow plate motorcycles require an E-class license, whereas blue plate motorcycles require an F-class license. Different passenger capacities: Yellow plate motorcycles can carry a maximum of two people, including the driver, as per regulations; blue plate motorcycles can only be ridden by the driver alone and cannot carry passengers.
I'm a seasoned motorcyclist with over a decade of riding experience in Shanghai. Blue-plate motorcycles mainly refer to those with licenses like Hu-A, which have relatively extensive riding areas, basically covering most places within the outer ring, including Pudong New Area and Minhang District where you can ride freely. However, some core areas have restrictions, such as People's Square in Huangpu District and certain sections within the inner ring road, especially during morning and evening rush hours when police checks are strict—you might get fined if you're not careful. I often go grocery shopping near Zhongshan Park, where riding isn't prohibited, but you need to pay attention to signs when crossing the Suzhou River Bridge. For safety, I recommend riders download a map app to stay updated on traffic restrictions in real-time and avoid unnecessary trips. After all, motorcycles are flexible, but unclear rules can easily lead to problems and disrupt your plans.
