Following the prohibition of motorcycles in the Guangzhou central urban districts, Guangzhou intends to restrict non-motorized vehicles such as pedi-cabs and handcarts on certain roads.

A person in charge of the Guangzhou Traffic Police Department says that the lack of related legal basis has caused the disorderly management of non-motorized vehicles such as pedi-cabs, bicycles, and handcarts, since there are neither provisions on the mandatory registration of non-motorized vehicles in the Law of the People's Republic of China on Road Traffic Safety which became effective on May 1st, 2004, nor specific provisions on such issues in the Guangdong Road Traffic Safety Regulations.

Since the complete prohibition of motorcycles in the Guangzhou central urban districts on January 1st, 2007, rickshaws, handcarts, and pedi-cabs have appeared on many roads to cause a series of traffic safety problems. They have exacerbated the situation between people, vehicles, and road by reducing the traffic capacity of the road, increasing the potential safety issues, and causing injuries and deaths in traffic accidents.

In 2007, non-motorized vehicles caused 1,454 accidents in total including 141 deaths and 1,558 injuries.

Guangzhou Traffic Police Department would ask the public for comments on the restriction of pedi-cabs and provide questionnaires on the Internet as well.

(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)