Youths find freedom in customized scooters

Staying legal

Liu Zhenyi, 37, from Beijing, bought a scooter after online photos of a modified retro-style scooter sparked her interest. She rides the scooter every morning to a stadium where she plays volleyball. During the journey she often has to negotiate traffic jams.

Liu removed the back seat of the scooter and installed a vintage brown box, as well as a leather pouch in the front. The scooter is now able to carry more sports equipment. The modifications cost about 600 yuan.

When she purchased the vehicle, the salesperson informed Liu about following local traffic regulations, and advised her on which parts of the scooter can be legally modified. This helps customers ensure the modifications are safe while they try to enhance the scooter's appearance.

In most Chinese cities electric scooters are classified by their speed and weight, meaning they only require a license plate for legal use. Riders do not need a license to be on the road.

In Beijing, for instance, an electric scooter's top speed is set at 25 kilometers per hour, and its weight, excluding the battery, cannot exceed 55 kilograms.

However, it is easy to disable preset speed restrictions on electric scooters. Illegal modifications can involve using software or programs to remove speed restrictions and replacing major parts such as the battery, motor, controller, tires, wheel hubs or suspension.

By the end of 2022, scooter ownership in China had reached 350 million, meaning one in four people in the country owned a scooter, data from the China Bicycle Association showed.

Annual production of scooters in China has surpassed 35 million, ranking first in the world, with scooters commonly used for short-and medium-distance trips, a report from Economic Daily said.

Yao, who works at the internet company, said compared with a motorbike her scooter is light, and easy to ride and push. Also, on some Beijing roads only motorcycles with certain license plates are allowed, but such restrictions do not apply to scooters, she said.

However, the limited battery life concerns Yao.

"I feel anxious heading to destinations further than 5 km, worrying that the charge may run out when I drive back. Especially when I keep the headlights on during the night, the power will be consumed even faster."