Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, China, was known as the "motorcycle city" in the 1990s. However, the uncontrolled growth of gasoline-powered motorcycles led to both congestion and air pollution.

Starting in 2002, the city began restricting registrations for traditional motorcycles. Electric two-wheelers, including electric motorcycles and e-bikes, emerged as an alternative due to their flexibility, speed, and affordability.

Today, Nanning is known as the "electric bicycle and two-wheeler capital" and the "green city," with an average ownership rate of one electric two-wheeler for every 1.5 residents, according to the New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).

By the end of 2023, the number of electric two-wheelers in Nanning exceeded 4.8 million, surpassing the number of private cars. How did this transformation happen?

Nanning residents ride electric two-wheelers on 1/2/2025. Photo: Reuters

Nanning residents ride electric two-wheelers on 1/2/2025. Photo: Reuters

In terms of policy, since 2013, the city government has integrated electric two-wheeler traffic management into its overall urban transport strategy. The city implemented an official electric two-wheeler registration system, and as the number of vehicles increased significantly, the government continued to develop management models tailored to the demand.

In 2020, the "Nanning Electric Two-wheeler Management Regulations" were issued, detailing all stages from production, sales, and registration to movement, parking, and charging stations to standardize vehicle management.

Simultaneously, the policy to promote and manage electric two-wheelers was quickly put into practice thanks to the upgrade and renovation of appropriate traffic infrastructure, prioritizing electric two-wheelers, addressing charging and parking needs, tightening traffic law enforcement, and creating safe traffic conditions.

The city optimized former motorcycle lanes by dividing them and creating dedicated lanes for electric two-wheelers, with widths of over 3 meters. At major intersections, Nanning established waiting and separate lanes for electric vehicles, adjusted traffic lights, and installed LED guidance lights. At large intersections or bus stations, electric two-wheelers have dedicated overpasses, tunnels, or bypass lanes to ensure separation and safety.

To address the charging station issue, Nanning developed suitable plans for each type of community, deploying public charging facilities based on the specific conditions of each area. For example, in densely populated or older residential areas, the city opened dedicated charging areas or installed external charging stations.

Promoting cooperation between businesses and residential management boards is key to solving the issue of "who builds and who manages" charging infrastructure, ensuring safe, convenient, and affordable access for residents. In addition, Nanning also developed battery swapping and fast charging stations to meet the urgent battery replacement needs of frequent users, especially delivery drivers, as well as to reduce pressure on the regular charging system.

For parking, the city's traffic management agency adjusted some on-street parking spaces for electric two-wheelers. Notably, one car parking space can accommodate nearly 8 electric two-wheelers, effectively balancing the parking needs of different vehicles in limited street space.

However, in the early years of the transition from gasoline motorcycles to electric vehicles, Nanning also faced issues with chaotic traffic and frequent accidents. Riders didn't require licenses and could drive immediately after purchasing electric vehicles, leading to some instances of lacking traffic safety awareness and road law knowledge.

Facing the dual challenge of meeting residents' essential travel needs and ensuring safety, Nanning adopted a co-management model based on education. The city provided guidance, installed signs at intersections, organized direct communication campaigns, and implemented traffic safety education programs tailored to each community.

Electric two-wheeler riders are educated through five methods: studying traffic laws before registering a vehicle, watching instructional videos, copying traffic laws, attending lectures, and experiencing police duties firsthand.

In addition, the local traffic police launched a campaign to establish "learning points" at key intersections, meaning violators are re-educated on-site about proper driving practices.

Combined with other solutions, such as incorporating electric two-wheeler violations into the citizen scoring system, the number of accidents has gradually decreased each year. From 2015 to 2017, the number of deaths per 10,000 electric two-wheelers decreased from 3.29 to 2.18, respectively.

Traffic violations have also decreased, with violations on major roads down by over 60%, and over 95% of electric vehicles complying with regulations. Citizen satisfaction and feelings of safety have increased, with over 95% of residents supporting the electric vehicle management program.

According to the ITDP, Nanning's success in managing electric two-wheelers is a highly valuable model for other cities. The city prioritized governance and placed the right of way for electric two-wheeler riders above other vehicles in its policy design.

"Nanning also demonstrates long-term vision in infrastructure design and technological innovation, particularly in building dedicated lanes, optimizing intersections, and developing tunnels or overpasses specifically for these vehicles," the ITDP assessed.

Other cities can also learn from Nanning’s multi-faceted, flexible approach to addressing issues like battery charging, parking, and raising safety awareness, as recommended by the ITDP.

Phien An (compiled)