Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide

[SabineHartmann]

thank you for this thread!
this is a very good beginning, now somebody should add all the answers about bike licences, driving licences and a bit of basic laws and MCM has a post which will answer a lot of "newbe`s" questions

[ZMC888]

A few examples of accidents on Chinese roads involving foreign riders. If you are a new rider have a read, and try to avoid the same thing from happening to you. If you have had an accident and you think that someone else could learn from what happened to you or a friend, put in a reply.

China Accident example 1

A moderately experienced rider was riding in a small city at night. Unknown to them a small truck had dropped a brick in the road. Unluckily, the rider didn't see the brick and hit it at 50k/mh, rider dropped the bike and wasn't wearing much protection other than a helmet, and suffered moderate cuts and bruises.

China Accident example 2

An experienced rider was riding on his side of the road, minding his own business at approximately 80Km/h. An oncoming car swerved to overtake the car in front. The rider presumed he'd been seen but in fact the overtaking driver had not done, which resulted on a near head-on collision, where the rider ended up in a ditch with broken bones and a few weeks in hospital. The police decided that it was the driver's fault. Even though the motorcyclist did not have a Chinese license, this only effected his level of monetary compensation negatively, and got in no trouble of any kind.

China Accident example 3

An experienced rider was riding on a street which had been previously designated as for pedestrians only, but in reality was used by motorized vehicles. It was raining and the surface was very slick on a fake ornamental marble surface that the rider lost the front end at slow speed, and the rider's leg fell down a metal grate designed for an ornamental fountain, needing 8 stitches in their shin. Road surface was so slick that it was almost impossible to even walk on without falling over.

China Accident example 4

An experienced rider was riding through village at 40-50 km/h when a young girl ran out in front of him. Despite his best efforts he could not avoid her and hit her leg, but not severely. Despite the bike and rider being completely legal including insurance, the rider was forced to pay 10,000 yuan by the local police who just saw a money making opportunity.

China Accident example 5

An inexperienced rider wearing minimal protection was riding a curve, closely following his companion at approximately 60 km/h. There was a large pot-hole on the road, the first rider saw it in time, his following companion did not. His front wheel hit the edge of the pot-hole hard. He fell off head first and the bike landed on top of him severely injuring his kneecap, in fact his kneecap almost became detached from his leg entirely requiring one month in hospital.

China Accident example 6

An experienced rider was riding in a city at approximately 50km/h. There were a set of traffic lights, these were flashing amber, indicating that as he was on the major road he had right of way. However a car driver did not see him, or did not understand the concept of minor/major road and did not stop. This resulted in a collision that resulted in moderate damage to the bike and cuts and bruises. Basic costs were covered by the car driver's insurance.

China Accident example 7

An experienced rider was riding a twisty mountain road and having fun on the switchbacks. However immediately around one corner was a huge mound of sand left there for nearby building work. With an oncoming car the rider was forced into the pile of sand resulting in a few bent bike parts, but no injury to the rider.

[chinabiker]

A few examples of accidents on Chinese roads involving foreign riders. If you are a new rider have a read, and try to avoid the same thing from happening to you. If you have had an accident and you think that someone else could learn from what happened to you or a friend, put in a reply.

China Accident example 8
A very experienced rider rode through a village on a pretty wide and new, still unpaved road, at around 30-40 km/h. An oncoming motorized three wheeler just cut into his lane to make a left turn. The collision was unavoidable so he crashed into the side of the vehicle. The pillion rider flew across the three wheeler and the rider impacted the drivers access "door" The pillion rider stayed uninjured, while the rider got some stitches on his upper cheek, right at the spot from the local doctor.
Both were wearing full protective gear, what may have saved their lives. The rider had a Chinese motorcycle driving license and the bike was fully legal.

The right foot of the three wheeler's driver was seriously injured by the BMW's brake disk as he was only wearing slippers.

Local authorities ruled that the driver of the three wheeler was 100% responsible since he was drunk, had no license and the vehicle un-registered and no insurance. However, my friends didn't get any compensation, neither for medical treatment nor for the bike, which was seriously damaged.

My friends (rider and passenger) are foreigners, the opponent is Chinese. I did not witness the actual accident because I was a kilometer or so ahead and arrived the scene some minutes after the crash.

[moilami]

China Accident example 8
An oncoming motorized three wheeler just cut into his lane to make a left turn.

Darn that kind of things makes me mad. Makes me think that the best vehicle in China would be sidecar motorcycle equipped with heavy machinegun. Then only some trigger happy passenger in it would make things perfect. As a matter of fact even I could consider sitting in the sidecar by then zooming at the potential threats

EDIT:



That would do! Then it would just be a matter of asking "so, ye wanna try milking crash compensation $$$ from 'em?"

[moilami]

Here is a good vid of what can happen in more "developed" countries in crossroads as well. For some reason there just is an age verification, I don't understand why because the vid is good educational material about the dangers in the streets. Drive safe and don't forget to check your six among the other things.

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%3D-qvXbIenivk

[felix]

(Potential) China Accident example 9
Riding on a 4 lane road, 2 lanes each way with metal fence in the middle. I am doing 80 in the outside lane, about to overtake a slower car in the inside lane. The car driver suddenly remembers he wants to make a left turn through a gap in the fence and swerves across both lanes without looking. Too late to brake, i swerve left too and aim for the narrowing gap between the car and the fence. I miss the car by what feels like 2cm, but it really could have gone either way.

(Potential) China Accident example 10
Driving slowly, coming up to a red light which has the count-down timer. There are only a few seconds left til green, so you set your speed so that it will turn green just as you are rolling through. There is a big truck stopped at the light, you plan to undertake it as the light turns green. However, hidden by the truck is a bike/ebike/car that has sped through as the light was turning red for them, and is hoping to just make it past before the big truck starts to move. You undertake the truck and just as you reach the front, BAM!

Intersection advice: Never assume that a green light means you have a clear path through. Always slow down at lights to see who may be going through with their eyes closed/texting on their phone/forgot they're on a public road/trying to save petrol by not stopping etc...

[Nuhaus]

(Potential) China Accident example 10
Driving slowly, coming up to a red light which has the count-down timer. There are only a few seconds left til green, so you set your speed so that it will turn green just as you are rolling through. There is a big truck stopped at the light, you plan to undertake it as the light turns green. However, hidden by the truck is a bike/ebike/car that has sped through as the light was turning red for them, and is hoping to just make it past before the big truck starts to move. You undertake the truck and just as you reach the front, BAM!

Intersection advice: Never assume that a green light means you have a clear path through. Always slow down at lights to see who may be going through with their eyes closed/texting on their phone/forgot they're on a public road/trying to save petrol by not stopping etc...

Jeez, that is how I broke my arm last April. Ass over teakettle after I hit the front brake to avoid an ebike that was trying to shoot through the intersection before the traffic started. Now I always make sure to wait till the other traffic is moving before I enter the intersection. Always have to remember that the other drivers here are insane, no matter how good you are its always best to let them go first so you can see and avoid them.