On your bikes! Perhaps too early to say that

The crackdown on electric tricycles in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, launched late last month seems controversial. At a press conference on Tuesday, Shenzhen police tried to appease the public by saying the crackdown was targeted at illegal vehicles rather than express delivery services, and many media reports had exaggerated the number of tricycles seized.

But the trend in big cities is worrying despite Shenzhen officials' explanation. In the latest development, the Beijing municipal government has decided to ban electronic motorcycles and tricycles on some of the city's roads, including Chang'an Avenue. Given the exemplary role the capital has played in policymaking, it is possible that more cities will follow its example to target these popular modes of transport which are used by couriers and many low-income people.

According to officials, the e-bikes and tricycles plying the roads are of substandard quality, with most of them having a top speed of more than 20 kilometers an hour - the limit set by the authorities for safety reasons - and thus pose a threat to the safety of pedestrians.