In a recent report, mainland China has implemented a new national standard for electric bicycles, restricting their speed to 25 kilometers per hour, which has had a significant impact on the food delivery industry. Reports have surfaced online of food delivery workers switching to bicycles, with some sharing the challenges they face caught between the “new national standard” and platform algorithms.
Starting from December 1st, mainland China has completely stopped the sale of electric bicycles that do not comply with the new mandatory national standard, “Technical Specifications for the Safety of Electric Bicycles” (new national standard). The new standard mandates that electric bicycles are uniformly limited to a speed of 25 kilometers per hour.
Recently, a video circulated online showing a food delivery worker in Shanghai riding a bicycle to make deliveries, with the food box secured on the side of the rear seat. The video also highlighted an electric bicycle complying with the new standard, traveling at a speed of 23 kilometers per hour, similar to the speed of the bike.
According to a report by “Xi’an Evening News” on December 8th, after Shanghai electric bicycles were limited to a speed of 25 kilometers per hour, some netizens captured images of food delivery drivers using bicycles for deliveries. One witness mentioned, “I saw him wearing clothes from Jingdong, wearing a Meituan helmet, and carrying a box from ELEME, which I found very interesting.”
Comments from mainland netizens reflected the contrasting perspectives on the situation, with some expressing bitterness and resignation towards life challenges posed by the new regulations. Others humorously speculated about the ultimate goal of experts being to encourage people to ride bicycles for physical fitness.
As the scrutiny on electric bicycles intensifies in various regions, there have been instances of food delivery workers turning to bicycles even before the implementation of the new national standard. It remains unclear if the shift to bicycles by these workers is a direct result of the new regulations.
Criticism has emerged regarding the new national standard’s speed limitation of 25 kilometers per hour, with complaints that it is overly slow and leads to automatic power cutoff if exceeded. Recent checks in Shanghai have particularly focused on ensuring electric vehicles comply with regulations on battery voltage and speeding risks.
With millions of employees in the express delivery and food delivery industry in China, disruptions caused by the new regulations have sparked debates and concerns among workers. A food delivery rider named Dahei, who works for multiple platforms in Shanghai, expressed skepticism about riders opting for the new national standard electric bicycles.
In practical tests conducted by some users, adhering to speed limits and other official rules has proven insufficient to meet the daily financial needs of food delivery workers. Despite regulations in place stating that bicycles should not exceed 15 kilometers per hour when outside a dedicated lane, some cities have imposed stricter speed limits on riders.
Interestingly, many countries worldwide have regulations on speed limits for electric bicycles, with Taiwan and Europe also enforcing a 25 kilometers per hour limit, while Japan and the USA have their own speed limits.
Analysts have pointed out that the challenges faced by food delivery workers in China are exacerbated by both personal life pressures and the profit-driven algorithms set by platforms, which push them to deliver quickly and often at the risk of traffic accidents. Furthermore, the systemic issues within the food delivery industry in China, exacerbated by the new national standard, highlight the need for broader structural reforms to address the underlying issues.
Critics have raised concerns over the removal of features that allowed for carrying passengers and storage on older electric bicycle models, a change brought about by the new regulations. While the new rules permit the transportation of children under twelve (in some regions even up to sixteen), manufacturers have opted to eliminate the rear seat to comply with weight and material restrictions, posing practical challenges for mothers who rely on electric bicycles for daily errands.