FootpathChina
6. Footpath
A footpath is a path or part of a road intended primarily for pedestrian traffic. It may run alongside a road, through a park or residential area, or independently from roads used by motor vehicles.
A footpath may be reserved exclusively for pedestrians or may form part of a shared route with cyclists or other permitted users. Access, priority and permitted users depend on the traffic signs and local regulations applying to the path.
Wikimedia.org • Gerd Eichmann • CC BY-SA
What does China call a roadside pavement?
The official term is 人行道, a pedestrian pavement. The Road Traffic Safety Law requires pedestrians to walk on it; where none exists, they must walk along the roadside. A non-motor-vehicle lane is a different part of the road.
🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Law Articles 36 and 61–63; Regulation 75
🔗 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
Does a Chinese pedestrian pavement automatically serve as a cycle lane?
No. The law distinguishes facilities for pedestrians, non-motor vehicles and motor vehicles. Bicycles normally use the non-motor-vehicle lane; the pedestrian pavement is the walking route. Follow the applicable signs and authorised local arrangements rather than assuming a wide pavement permits cycling.
🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Law Articles 36 and 61–63; Regulation 75
🔗 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 when leaving a Chinese pavement to cross the road?
Use a pedestrian crossing or other crossing facility. Follow pedestrian signals where provided. At a junction or road section without the relevant signals or crossing facilities, cross only after confirming it is safe. Do not climb or cross road-separation barriers.
🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Law Articles 36 and 61–63; Regulation 75
🔗 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

Traffic rules
China