petrol run or blue plate run ?

Hi all !
This is my first post here and first of all congratulations for the idea to create such website !

As most of you might know by now, it's been almost impossible to get tank refilled in gas station since few days.
I'm in downtown (fuxing rd) and it's impossible...

I'm driving an old leike 150cc scooter i trully love it and what was my saddness when i realised i couldnt get gas... some dude at the station almost kick my ass out when i asked explenation... here what i got after personnal investigation.

The governement want to banned all kind of petrol / LPG 2 wheels by the end of the year (logically if they keep refusing to serve those people in gas station the probem might be solved in a week...). Reason of it : 2 wheels are noisy and are responsible of pollution... (wtf ??? did you ever saw the cloud of fog after a bus start or switch gears ??).

Anyway, here's the problem, after more than 4 years driving scooter in shanghai i simply cant live without it.

Solution ?

i'm quite sure very soon some black market for petrol will be create and as i read it's in action already... but hey... are you whilling to find your "dealer every 3,4 days to refill ? it might become a very complex operation...

One of the guy from the station told me that if i get a blue plate "same as car" i could drive and get petrol whitout troubles... and i got this version aroud me too...

My question is now super simple... where to get those plates ? i'm whiling to pay a serious amount if it means i can drive my scooter and get petrol.

thanks a lot for any help !

i'll continue to investigate this case today again and i hope to get news for all of you cause i guess i'm not the only one in trouble.

Cheers !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VinX

The governement want to banned all kind of petrol / LPG 2 wheels by the end of the year (logically if they keep refusing to serve those people in gas station the probem might be solved in a week...). Reason of it : 2 wheels are noisy and are responsible of pollution... (wtf ??? did you ever saw the cloud of fog after a bus start or switch gears ??).

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/start angry rant
BS :bs: The reason they don't want 2 wheeled traffic is because of the congestion they cause to 4 wheeled traffic. If they had half a brain they'd be decreasing the number of car plates and encouraging people to buy bike plates, like they do in any other country where they are concerned with pollution.
/end angry rant

There are many threads here with information on getting plates for a bike in Shanghai. The bad news is that it will cost you around 40,000 RMB for an A plate and you will have to buy a new scooter. I'm filling up my bike on runs out to Songjiang these days so have not had too much trouble, but the other day I had to play dumb laowai in order to get fuel at a station just inside the second ring road. Personally, I am thinking of moving out to Suzhou next fall!

Dear Nuhaus,

completely agree with you... i mean... when you see others big asian cities, EVERYONE got scooters, moto or whatever...and local government encourage it... but not here in sweet shanghai where government see more profit to sell cars and car's plate whatever the pollution it causes... money money money...

Anyway... i'm wondering how all locals users will react cause nowhere it's been said that the government might offer a bonus to any petrol bike returned or whatsoever...

Now... for the plate deal... gosh... 40,000 wasnt exactly what i had in mind to be honnest...
I'll continue my investigation cause i just cant accept to let my scooter die in my garage like that !!!

About moving to suzhou; sure you can get petrol there, but you can't get plates. Whereas shanghai charges an exorbitant amount for plates at least you can get some. Suzhou went for total ban in 2008 and now all the scooters and bikes are gone. Everyone has moved to ebike or cars. (since they introduced the ban i had the chance to watch suzhou traffic change into a gridlock comparable to shanghai, good work assholes!) In the inner part of the city i would avoid ever being there on a bike, though you can get away with it at night if you know where the police are. In SIP in the east of the city you can still get away with it, but avoid the police and don't stop for them. You'll get fined at the very least, but might have your bike taken away. Seriously lots of people i know in suzhou who drive scooters with no plates got stopped at some point and lost their bike. My bike has legal nanjing plates so i only would get fined. And it happened too.

I still think suzhou is better than shanghai for owning a bike just because it's easier to get out of there for weekend trips. But for riding around inside the city it's no better. At least in shanghai if you have money you have options.

So for those of us without the 44k for a shanghai plate? I know it's sad, but ebikes seem to be a pretty good compromise until they get banned too. If you're willing to blow like 5 or 6000 kuai on one with a 2kW motor and 8 big cells, you'll get similar performance to a 110cc scooter with about 80km range. Sure charging batteries is a real pain in the ass, but frankly so is having to constantly avoid police and driving out to songjiang for petrol...

More about the ebike idea over here.

Hi ! 3rd post of the day... i got news...

I got the info from a friend who got a blue plate for scooter few weeks ago so i beleive the news is pretty reliable.
First of all the blue plate for 2 wheels cost 30.000 RMB if you buy it on your name and 17.000 RMB if you buy it through your local company as a "company vehicle". The second option means you own a local company or you know someone who own a company and whiling to put his name on your license with all the responsabilities it engaged...

I will get more news soon about how to get the plate, where etc...

In the meantime... i guess i'll hit the road with my longboard...
Walking ? NEVER !!!!

Interesting. Aren't the blue plates limited to 50cc though? Milton mentioned that in this thread.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by milton

Blue is cheaper but only for engine displacement of less than 50cc (this restriction was imposed in 1996 as I read from another forum)

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Even if it is 17k i still think i'd pass. Way too much money and i believe they are non transferable, meaning it's money lost, as opposed to the yellow plates which can be sold on.

Hi felix ! thanks for the additional info...
I'm afraid you are right... it seems those blue "gold" plate are for under 50cc... need to confimed... but if it's true as i suspect, then yes...even 17.000 is a f... robbery. i cant believe the whole situation...
It seems it's the most expensive piece of iron in the world said my friend...
Any ideas about all those people who own a scooter ? what we gonna do with it ? resell the pieces ?

By the way, you were talking about really powerful electric one, any idea where to go to check it ?
I hate to say that cause i really think eletric ones are unconvenient and unfortunatly big ugly plastic piece... but i'd like to know the alternative... and hope there're others models available and not only the huge harler davidson/ poor vespa copy one and the small playmobile girlie one...

Thanks a lot !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VinX

Any ideas about all those people who own a scooter ? what we gonna do with it ? resell the pieces ?

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Don't panic yet. Keep looking around for a way to get fuel for now. I see many scooters and motorcycles each day driving around Shanghai without legal plates. They must be getting fuel from somewhere :).

Thanks for your message...
just back from Xujiahui area and yes... i saw the same amount of scooter still driving... petrol might come from somewhere yes...
But i didnt found yet a station in luwan or xuhui who accept to sell petrol... and since my tank is almost empty i cant really take the risk to go on a petrol run without real clue...
Even i'll find petrol... i might get trouble with police if they manage to stop me... cause if we keep it logical by now most of scooter on the street now are "illegal" or something... ?

Tanks for your concern and support guys !

ps: if anyone knows a place no too far from xujiahiu to get petrol please advise... thanks !

What do people with chainsaws, mowers, generators etc. do? Contractors and so on? And do you know anyone with a car you could siphon from, for emergencies of course? Workmates, fellow students might assist? Can you 'hire' a truck with a few petrol powered tools in the back and fill some cans? Etc. etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VinX

... if they manage to stop me

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Exactly.

If you can avoid it at all, just don't stop for the police. Even if your intentions are good and your bike is legal, you might end up in shit anyway. I've a story or two to tell about that...

I'll answer the ebike questions in my ebike thread to keep it all in one place.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by felix

I've a story or two to tell about that...

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I am all ears :naughty:

Fine. Here's your story...

I have been driving bikes in Shanghai now for about 1,5 years and recently noticed like u guys that we can't get petrol anymore.. I thought they might just do it before Chinese new year, like they always go out on patrols a lot as well.. I kinda understand why they are doing this, but on the other hand.. Half of Shanghai is driving illegal, lot's of people can't afford a license plate so why do this..

Now I found a guy that sells "illegal'' petrol but he wanted 50RMB for 1 liter.. A bit crazy if u ask me! Is it possible to convert a petrol bike into a LPG bike.. Because I noticed people with LPG bikes still can get LPG

Welcome to the board.

No, they are not making it any easier. I'll admit, however, that having been knocked off my bicycle by a maniacal unlicensed scooter rider, I'm not altogether opposed to measures that make it a lot harder for outlaw riders to function in the city. Having paid the piper to get legal gives one a different perspective.

What are you riding and what would it take to get legal? Can you make do with a (cheaper) suburban plate?

cheers

I've recently heard news that if you get caught riding a bike with out of town plates in inner shanghai (assuming everything else is legal, you're just in the wrong area) it's not only a 200 RMB fine but also 3 points off your license.

There are 12 points on your license and they regenerate after a year, so you can get caught 3 times a year. After that stop risking it.

Just wanted to add that nugget of info to the conversation.

I actually don't know what I'm riding haha! I bought it for 2100 RMB brand new.. it's the model that almost everyone drives! But I think buying plates for 46.000RMB is to expensive.. I rather buy a car in that case

I got news saying it's possible to get "real fake" blue plate with license for couple of kuais if you assume the risks... But after few days watching what's going on in the street i still didnt understand where all the scooters get their petrol... i feel there's no less scooters on the road and i dont see police control whatsoever...
Then i'll ask all of you... anybody knows where to get petrol please ?
Thanks a lot !

Look man, you ain't gonna find it here are you? The scooters get their petrol in gas stations, you just don't see it happen. The Chinese are in China, it is their patch, their hood, they know the game. Get to know one or two, as I said before, at work or school or wherever you are hanging. If I was there I would have some in minutes, sorry I can't educate you in the simple facts of life at a distance, I mean I know you said 'please' but that don't butter no bread. Get out on the streets and meet people, have a laugh and soon whatever you want will turn up. That is life.

Why not just walk into a petrol station with a Jerry can and claim you ran out of petrol down the road???

I'm guessing it's not the same in Shanghai, but here in Shenzhen since bikes have been outright banned for years, the petrol station guys are usually only amused when I pitch up late at night.

Hey Jape,
Did i ever ask you for education or anything ? i'm posting on this blog to share my experience about this problem and maybe find solution. In any case i'm not here to read that kind of comments. I'm in shanghai for a decade, longer than a big majority of foreigners and trust me i know my way here... if beeing polite and nice on that blog bother you then i'm sorry. Of course i do believe IF you were here miracle would happen... Thanks for telling me what LIFE is... lol !
So long mate and take it easy !

Polite is one thing i am not good at, but your style is ignorant mate, forgive my being blunt. You ask simple questions, get suggestions and answers from me and others and ignore them, which is ill-mannered, then repeat yourself. Oh well, you may have been there a decade but you haven't made any friends/acquaintances can get you fuel so you have to use your feet. Poor sod.

I admit, just to piss you off further, I haven't been to China yet; only all of Europe, Indonesia and a few other places here and there in passing while travelling back and forth and a round the world over a few decades. I will see you In Shanghai, on a fuelled motorcycle, within a few months and show you how if you buy me a beer and haven't faded away meanwhile.

Great website. It' been a solid source of info regarding the 'petrol n plates' situation here in Shanghai. I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye to my beloved scooter, so over the holidays i've been asking around with some fairly good results, here's the news. A couple of Chinese guys i know've bought a simple device from TaoBao (19rmb)that pumps fluid from one container to another. These dudes have been siphoning petrol from a scooter with legit plates and sharing it amongst the other bikes. I had a tanks worth from them and it seemed a fairly simple process. Yesterday tho, i was introduced to a guy who can get hold of fake plates. Now, i'm no advocate of breaking the law, but today i bought a blue C plate for 400rmb, and to my delight, my local station gave me petrol again. Success.
Please don't get me wrong, buying fake plates and siphoning petrol are not things i'm proud of doing, but i paid a lot of money for my 150cc Huajun bike barely 12 months ago, and since then the bike has become a real hobby. Finding routes out to Fengxian, Songjiang, and Suzhou has been a blast.
I think i'm just not quite ready to give it up. Ha.

Thanks for posting some info on this. Would be great to modify a bike with a GIANT tank to go and do petrol runs.

The fake plate sounds like a practical idea, but there's always that shadow looming over over you of what happens if you get caught or have an accident that you can't run away from? i suspect it won't be pretty...

This site has been a great source of info for me too. I just got a 125cc bike not even two months ago when this stupid law was passed. My heart sunk.

My solution: the bike repair shop that I go to said they can get petrol for me. He said he can get me a big bottle for 100RMB that should fill up three tanks. I'd have to take the bottle home and keep it at my place, which I wouldn't mind. I haven't needed to fill up yet, so I haven't tried it, but it sounds like a sound option to me.

The plates are tempting, but yes, if something were to go wrong, I'd hate to be the laowai that's made an example of...

Classic case of China's bureaucrats failing to think things through to their logical conclusion. They order petrol stations to stop selling to bikes without local plates. So every mechanic in town starts warehousing large quantities of petrol in dodgy plastic bottles, and unplated riders start storing these in their apartments. Good thing almost all men in China are smokers.

:28::28::hellfire::28::28:

kaboom.

In Aus they are doing it the clever way, putting up the price so it is now 1.37 a litre for 91 octane and we cannot afford to go anywhere! I would be stuck without the bike.

I actually bought the blue plates today for a cheap price.. Installed it on my bike and it works, no questions asked at the petrol station.. love it :) They actually manufacture those plates in a factory, so they are not stolen. To be honest they tried to stop me a few times in my shanghai bike career but I always got away.. Worst case senario u crash into a car (probably taxi).. Pay the guy a few hunderd and walk away! And if the police shows up tell them u have the papers in your apartment but it's a bit far.. they won't come over

You need to be damned bloody careful, Jliebregts. The scenario you've painted is the best, not the worst. The law here is clear: If you are in an accident and do not have proper registration and insurance, you are 100% at fault, even if you did nothing to cause the accident. Some idiot with an illegally purchased but legal license and legal registration and zero driving skills swerves in your path and takes you down, and you are broken and bleeding and perhaps briefly unconscious, and when you open your eyes the cops are there and you are being loaded into an ambulance, it will come as little comfort that you are 100% at fault. That's worst case scenario, assuming you live.

I was taken out from behind, totally blindsided, by an unlicensed motorcyclist while bicycling on (American) Thanksgiving Day, and knocked out cold (alas, no helmet). The motorcyclist could have fled, but had a conscience and stayed, even thought his bike was unplated. The cops were there, and as I slowly cleared the cobwebs and was loaded into an ambulance, the guy who had hit me climbed in and rode to hospital with me. The cops produced paperwork, which he signed, acknowledging that he was 100% at fault. He paid for xrays and a CT scan and other expenses with cash, and accompanied me through a long and painful and brain-addled day. That was a best-case scenario, and it could have been much, much worse.

I'm not saying yea or nay on using fake plates. But please understand the law can and will come down very hard on you in certain circumstances that you cannot necessarily control.

cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jliebregts

.. Worst case senario u crash into a car (probably taxi).. Pay the guy a few hunderd and walk away! And if the police shows up tell them u have the papers in your apartment but it's a bit far.. they won't come over

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You're the hero, are you?
Unfortunately not the worst case. Riding on a legal bike, two pints and innocently hit by a Taxi with rider and bike down - no way to run, it was a bit far and they did come over. The guy was "lucky" that he was injured, so they let him go with all the blame on him. Imagine that with a fake plate.
I wouldn't resist to put a fake plate on my bike for fuel, but only for fuel.