On May 25th, it was reported that recently, Professor Li Daokui from Tsinghua University mentioned in an interview that the gradual lifting of motorcycle bans in some cities is beneficial for consumption and can also reduce the cost of social travel.
In Li Daokui's view, urban motorcycle bans are based on various considerations. Some cities implement bans to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure traffic safety. However, the current cause of traffic congestion in many places is the excessive number of cars.
"If restrictions on motorcycles are lifted and motorcycles are allowed to share some of the travel demand, it can reduce the reliance on cars and actually alleviate traffic congestion. After all, motorcycles require less road space and are more flexible than cars. Xi'an is a prime example where road congestion significantly eased after lifting the motorcycle ban."
Regarding traffic safety, it is true that some motorcycle riders do not follow traffic rules, leading to frequent accidents. However, everything carries risks, and a blanket ban may not be the best solution.
In the overall ecosystem of usage, motorcycles must play an important role to become a mature product. Once banned, it triggers a series of chain reactions.
Li Daokui also pointed out that due to the absence of motorcycles, the demand for power and battery capacity of electric bicycles has increased to cover the speed and travel distance previously provided by motorcycles.
Due to restrictions imposed by national standards, illegal modifications have emerged in the market. Larger battery capacities from illegal modifications have led to new safety hazards. If some electric bicycles are replaced by low-displacement motorcycles, the risk of fires caused by charging will decrease.
From this perspective, the prohibition of motorcycles is partly behind the tragic fires in residential areas caused by charging in recent years.
Furthermore, due to their low displacement, fuel efficiency, and small size, motorcycles can become a new choice for many people, thereby reducing the pressure on road traffic.
