Which cities allow motorcycles on highways?
3 Answers
Provinces and cities that permit motorcycles on highways include: Anhui, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Beijing, Liaoning, Hainan, Guizhou, Xinjiang, Yunnan, etc. Below is relevant information: Motorcycle: A motorcycle is a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle powered by a gasoline engine, steered by handlebars to control the front wheel. It is lightweight, flexible, fast, widely used for patrols, passenger and cargo transportation, and also serves as sports equipment. Broadly speaking, motorcycles are categorized into street bikes, road racing motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, cruisers, touring bikes, etc. Highway: A highway, abbreviated as expressway, refers to a road specifically designed for high-speed automobile traffic. Highways have different regulations across countries, regions, eras, and academic research fields.
I know some cities allow motorcycles on highways, but it depends on the regulations of each province. Provinces like Liaoning, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, and Heilongjiang generally permit it, but with many requirements: the motorcycle must have an engine displacement of at least 125cc, no passengers are allowed, only the rightmost lane can be used, and the speed must not exceed 80 km/h. On the highway between Shanghai and Jiangsu, I've seen checkpoints specifically inspecting motorcycle documents. Some places like Fujian and Shaanxi have more lenient policies, but during the rainy season when roads are slippery, they may advise motorcycles to turn back. The highway in Nagqu, Tibet, doesn’t ban motorcycles, but the high altitude poses significant risks. It’s advisable to check the latest notices on the local traffic management app before setting off, as enforcement may vary at each toll station.
I've ridden my motorcycle on long-distance trips. In Guangdong, I could normally get a toll card and enter the highway, but in Shenzhen, it's completely prohibited. In Zhejiang, wearing a helmet is mandatory, and toll stations even hand out safety reminder cards. The strictest I encountered was in Sichuan, where all highway entrances have signs prohibiting motorcycles. Once, at the Chengdu-Ya'an highway entrance, I was directly turned away by traffic police. Surprisingly, Gansu in the northwest is quite friendly—some toll collectors even guide motorcycles to the truck lanes. Mountain highways require extra caution for crosswinds; once on a Guizhou highway, I was almost blown off course by the airflow from a large truck. For long trips, it's best to carry some emergency tools—chain lubricant and tire repair strips are the most practical.
