Not only are there driving restrictions, but now even cycling is limited—just one wrong turn and you could end up in a “no-go zone” or even get fined. Yesterday, Guangzhou traffic police announced that they will soon launch a special campaign to crack down on illegal non-motorized vehicle behavior, with penalties imposed on the spot for violations. However, many residents and tourists have complained that Guangzhou’s bicycle no-entry roads are “unpredictable,” with insufficient no-entry signs, and were surprised to learn that even Dongfeng Road is off-limits to cyclists.
Cyclist stopped on Dongfeng Road
Yesterday, tourist Ms. Huang arrived in Guangzhou and rented a public bicycle at the Sports Center, then cycled toward the old city area. When she reached Dongfeng East Road, she was stopped by a traffic warden who told her to take a detour or dismount and push her bike along the roadside. Ms. Huang was quite puzzled. She took a detour through a side street, but soon found herself back on Dongfeng Road. What upset her was the lack of bicycle prohibition signs and detour guidance along the way, and that without using Dongfeng Road, out-of-town visitors simply couldn’t find a suitable route. “How are we tourists supposed to figure it out? We really can’t get around without using Dongfeng Road!”
Yesterday afternoon, at the intersection of Dongfeng Road and Nonglinxia Road, cyclists continued to pass by, yet the no-entry sign was placed along the motor vehicle lane, rarely noticed by riders. Mr. Hu, a local resident, believes that both his home and workplace are located just a few kilometers apart along Dongfeng Road, and cycling is the most environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and convenient mode of transport. He suggested that Dongfeng Road allow bicycles with certain restrictions, such as designating bike lanes on the sidewalk.
Traffic police say they will add more signs and guidance
According to the Guangzhou traffic police department yesterday, bicycles have been banned from Dongfeng Road for the past three or four years, but many residents, especially tourists, are still unaware. Aside from Dongfeng Road, which other roads in Guangzhou prohibit bicycles? The Guangzhou traffic police revealed that urban expressways, city express roads, overpasses, elevated roads, tunnels, and some bridges across the Pearl River in downtown Guangzhou are all off-limits to non-motorized vehicles. Among them, multiple roads including Dongfeng Road, Zhongshan 5th Road (from Jixiang Road intersection to Beijing Road intersection), and Yanjiang Middle Road (from Wendeng Road intersection to Beijing Road intersection, eastbound) also prohibit non-motorized traffic, with violators facing fines ranging from 20 to 50 yuan.
Some residents have pointed out that areas like Tianhe North, Binjiang Road, Yanjiang Road, and even Guangzhou Avenue used to be bicycle-free zones, but after pre-Asian Games renovations, cycling became permitted and even part of the urban scenery—so why are roads like Dongfeng Road still off-limits? The Guangzhou traffic police explained that the current bicycle bans are temporary and that gradual improvements may eventually allow cycling on these roads. The traffic police also stated that they will improve traffic guidance and signage for bicycle-prohibited roads to help affected residents find nearby detours.