Bike pathChina

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of China. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


7. Bike path

A bike path is a part of a road or a separate route intended primarily or exclusively for people riding bicycles. It may be physically separated from motor traffic, marked on the road surface or identified by traffic signs.

Bike paths may be one-way, two-way or shared with other road users. The permitted users, direction of travel, priority rules and obligation to use the path depend on local traffic signs and regulations.

Path/lane for cyclists on the right. (Hefei, China)
Wikimedia.org • luchangjiang~鲁昌江 • CC BY-SA
Is a Chinese non-motor-vehicle lane the same as a bicycle-only path?

No. The term 非机动车道 means a non-motor-vehicle lane. Its permitted users can include qualifying electric bicycles and other legally recognised non-motor vehicles. Do not interpret a cycling symbol as proof that only pedal bicycles may use the lane.

🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Law Article 57; Regulation 70 obstruction exception

🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text

🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text

Mandatory path for cyclists. Mandatory path for cyclists.

English • Traffic sign 示31 • Non-motorised vehicles only. The road is reserved for non-motorised vehicles; only explicit supplementary information can limit it further to bicycles.

中文 • 示31 • 非机动车行驶。 该道路仅供非机动车通行;只有明确的辅助说明才能进一步限定为自行车。

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Openstd.samr.gov.cn • 国家标准全文公开 • GB 5768.2-2022(含第1号修改单)
🔗 Upload.wikimedia.org • 标准原文镜像 • PDF第64页

SVG source: Beijing Traffic Management Bureau • Public domain • Original revision 2021-12-15. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Must cyclists use a provided non-motor-vehicle lane in China?

Yes. The national Law requires non-motor vehicles to use that lane. Where none exists, they travel on the right side of the carriageway. An ordinary pedestrian pavement is a different part of the road.

🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Law Article 57; Regulation 70 obstruction exception

🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text

🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text

What should I do if a Chinese non-motor-vehicle lane is obstructed?

The implementing Regulations permit temporarily using the adjacent motor lane where an obstruction makes the non-motor lane unusable. Return promptly after passing it. This is a limited obstruction exception, rather than permission to ride continuously in the motor lane.

🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Law Article 57; Regulation 70 obstruction exception

🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text

🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text

1 China 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Speed limit 6 Footpath 7 Bike path 8 Tunnel 9 Toll road 10 Slope 11 Bus lane 12 Bus stop 13 Stop sign 14 Give way 15 Roundabout 16 Road narrowing 17 Pedestrian crossing 18 Railway crossing 19 Mandatory direction 20 Turn prohibition 21 School area 22 Rockfall 23 Curve 24 Chevron 25 Wrong-way driving 26 Roadworks 27 Crosswind 28 Height limit 29 Weight limit 30 Radar speed sign 31 Priority at the next junction 32 Traffic lights 33 Traffic lights warning 34 Pedestrian lights 35 Driving licence 36 Location marker 37 Traffic mirror 38 Parking 39 No parking 40 No stopping 41 Disabled parking 42 Reversing 43 U-turn 44 Uncontrolled crossroad 45 Provisional licence 46 Emergency exit 47 Runaway truck ramp 48 Horn 49 Axle weight limit 50 Charging station 51 Pedestrian 52 Motorcycle 53 Car 54 Truck 55 Bus 56 Police 57 Ambulance 58 Taxi 59 Police signals 60 Pothole 61 Path 62 Particulates 63 Air pollution 64 Rush hour 65 Road code 66 Street gutter 67 Cargo bike 68 Forestry vehicle 69 Construction vehicle 70 Semi-trailer truck 71 Trolleybus 72 Speed pedelec 73 Delivery vehicle 74 Idling 75 Tow truck 76 Four-wheel drive 77 Bicycle 78 Motorcycle equipment 79 Rail track 80 Caravan 81 Trailer 82 Tow hitch 83 Fire truck 84 Siren 85 Convoy 86 Emergency vehicle lighting 87 Agricultural machinery 88 Electric bicycle 89 Electric vehicle 90 Pedelec 91 Quadricycle 92 Microcar 93 All-terrain vehicle 94 Van 95 Recreational vehicle 96 Scooter 97 Trikke 98 Personal mobility device 99 Skateboard 100 Segway ...