Electric bike in China.
While prices are going way up at the pump I choose to get around on my electric bike. For most Chinese cities they're flat and I haven't came across a city that could be compared to San Francisco. Only Xiamen city has a few small hills that pose a threat to an electric bike.
When working in China you need some form of private transportation, buses are crowded, not all cities will have a subway and bicycles will make you all sweaty. Taxis are cheap in China but the constant use of a taxi will add up to the price of an electric bike.
Here is a picture of my almost two year old beast. It has fallen over a few times and left in many typhoons but still goes well.
If you choose to buy an electric bike make sure to get some information about the local government's traffic regulations. In one city bikes with thick wheels are not allowed because they look too similar to petrol scooters. My current bike has thin wheels due to this law and I bought the largest one with thin wheels. I really wanted this cool red one but my colleague warned me about this law. Because an electric bike is classed as a bicycle not a motor bike there is no need for a license which may be the reason for this law.
Electric bikes should be around the price of 2000 yuan but this will vary, most of the bike is plastic and the frame is mainly the only metal there is. The dealer should throw in some freebies such as an alarm and water proof poncho. The battery is the heaviest part of the bike and some batteries can be removed if you need to take it out to be recharged. If your apartment's bike shed or garage doesn't allow you to plug the bike to a socket then you need to bring the battery to your apartment. The battery weighs a ton and if you live on the top floor without a lift this will be a problem for you. Before you head out to the dealers make sure you have a place for recharging, my colleague takes his bike to a garage for a small fee will recharge and clean it.
On the road.
If you're a Star Wars fan and especially a fan of Return of the Jedi then you will love riding on the streets in China. If you go in a straight line you will take out hundreds of pedestrians because even if they see you they will not move. People who are on the wrong side of the road coming towards you will stare directly at you without giving a clue to whether they will go left or right. It is just like playing chicken but in slow motion.
Chinese cities have a petitioned lane for bicycles and the police may tell you to use this but it is a pain in the arse. Too many on coming bicycles and two ladies chatting road blocks will slow you right down. When I say two ladies chatting they're not always on bicycles, they could be on scooters going one kilometre an hour taking up the whole space. Electric bikes' maximum speed can vary from thirty to fifty kilometres an hour and most of the petrol bikes barely go sixty so even at thirty you're fast enough to be among the traffic.
The police shouldn't give you any problems because you're not breaking any laws, you don't need a license and don't need to wear a helmet. There was a Scottish teacher who rode a big black motor bike and was constantly pulled over, he didn't have a license and the police often asked for a bribe. Police will have two options, first one is you're not worth the paper work and the second is you're a juicy opportunity. However on an electric bike there is no threat of this problem because you don't need a license but some traffic police will ask you to ride in the bike lane. Just when he is out of sight get back on the road.