Han Ximin, Liu Ming
SHENZHEN transport and traffic police authorities confiscated more than 300 electric bikes being used as illegal taxis yesterday, the first day of a monthlong campaign.
The campaign focuses on illegal taxis operating near schools, supermarkets, hospitals, factories and village entrances in 25 subdistricts in Longgang, Bao an, Guangming New Zone and Pingshan New Zone.
The transport commission will focus on unlicensed passenger and freight transport services, while traffic police will focus on unlicensed services that use electric bikes.
The 25 teams in the task force, which was established Sunday, are each required to confiscate at least 15 vehicles and 400 electric bikes being used as illegal taxis each month.
The checks will be conducted daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
A huge number of illegal taxis had greatly affected licensed taxis in the four districts and had drawn widespread public criticism, Huang Min, chief of the Shenzhen transport commission, said at a meeting Sunday.
Two weeks ago, more than 600 cab drivers in Longgang and Bao an districts staged a strike to express their dissatisfaction over rampant illegal taxi services by cars and bikes.
Police estimate there are 600,000 electric bikes on Shenzhen s streets, many of which are used as illegal taxis.
Accidents involving electric bikes had risen dramatically in Shenzhen in the past few years, according to Xu Wei, deputy chief of the Shenzhen Traffic Police Bureau. Police records show a total of 105 people were killed and 557 others were injured in 468 electric bike accidents between 2007 and the first half of 2009.
Of these accidents, most bike riders fled the scene because they had no license plates or insurance.
According to Chinese regulations, electric bikes are not classified as vehicles because they are not motor-powered. According to State regulations, electric bikes should be limited to 20 kilometers per hour and should weigh no more than 40 kg. Yet most electric bikes can reach speeds of 50 km/ph hour.
Police are helping to draft regulations to impose controls on electric vehicles, and expect detailed regulations on electric bike offenses would be introduced soon, Xu said.
