If you're visiting Beijing – or any city in China – for the first time, the sheer number of electric bikes on the streets is hard to miss. Delivery riders crisscross the city day and night, weaving through traffic with impressive efficiency, while many residents rely on these scooters as a quick, convenient way to get around. As someone experiencing it firsthand, it's clear how integral e-bikes have become to urban life.

Building on its long-standing emphasis on road safety and orderly traffic management, Beijing is set to implement revised non-motor vehicle regulations from May 1, 2026, aiming to strengthen safety standards, improve enforcement, and better manage electric bikes and other non-motorized transport across the city.

Policy context

The revision comes as Beijing continues to adapt traffic governance to the rapid growth of e-bikes and similar vehicles, which now play a central role in daily mobility. Authorities say the updated rules are designed to align regulations with current road conditions, technological developments and public safety needs, while also making enforcement clearer and more consistent across the city.

General provisions

Under the updated regulations, electric bicycles, motorized wheelchairs for persons with disabilities and other non-motor vehicles designated by municipal authorities will be required to complete registration before operating on public roads. Scooters, self-balancing vehicles and similar modes of transport will continue to be prohibited from road use.

The revised rules also introduce stricter rules on road behavior. Riders are prohibited from running red lights, crossing stop lines, riding against traffic, or entering expressways, urban express routes, and other enclosed motor-vehicle-only lanes. Distracted riding – including using handheld phones or electronic devices – is banned. 

Other prohibited behaviors include riding side by side with physical contact, weaving through traffic, chasing one another, or riding under the influence of alcohol. Riders must also dismount when using pedestrian crossings, overpasses, or underpasses.

Three key areas of adjustment

First, mandatory helmet use for electric bicycle riders and passengers. 

This is an upgrade from the previous advisory requirement. Helmets must meet national safety standards and pass compulsory product certification. Violations will result in warnings or fines. Riders must wear certified helmets or face warnings or fines that may range from 10 yuan ($1.4) to 50 yuan. According to a report by the World Health Organization, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries by 69 percent and that of serious brain injuries by 79 percent.

Second, the regulations reaffirm existing speed limits for non-motor vehicles.

Electric bicycles and motorized wheelchairs for persons with disabilities remain subject to a maximum speed of 15 km/h in non-motor lanes, in line with China's Road Traffic Safety Law. Riders must also observe posted speed limits where road signs or markings apply.

Third, the rules adjust the age requirement for minor passengers on electric bicycles. 

Children under the age of 16 may now be carried on a rear fixed seat, expanding the previous age limit of under 12.

Additionally, courier and food-delivery vehicles will receive specially designated number-plates. Delivery platforms must register and regularly review their dispatch algorithms to ensure reasonable delivery times and routes and promote safe driving. The regulations also encourage the platforms to provide unified vehicles and insurance.

Furthermore, new public buildings and residential projects must include parking for non-motor vehicles. Bringing e-bike batteries into residential buildings is banned. Charging-facility operators must provide real-time safety monitoring, and property managers are required to conduct daily inspections.

To support implementation, more than 10 government authorities will roll out supporting measures, including detailed standards for battery safety assessments, as well as registration and renewal procedures for non-motor vehicles. Traffic police will also continue upgrading registration systems, promoting digital driving permits and expanding the use of electronic vehicle identification technologies to improve management efficiency.