Protest over motorcycle ban leads to vandalism
By Wang Qingchu |
November 17, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A PROTEST walk staged by more than 1,000 people against a government regulation banning motorcycles from downtown areas turned ugly as several police cars were overturned in a central China city.
Over 1,000 motorcyclists gathered near a municipal government office building in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, yesterday in a petition drive, asking the government to withdraw a regulation forbidding motorcycles without downtown licenses and some mopeds from downtown areas.
The local government sent a large number of policemen to the area. Several police vehicles were overturned and protesters also damaged guardrails on the road. Police arrested 12 people for disturbing social order, Beijing News reported yesterday.
The new rule, which took effect on November 13, was meant to maintain traffic order in downtown Chenzhou, according to the local government, which blamed the motorcycles and mopeds of conducting an illegal taxi business for years.
The government's resolve to crack down on the illegal practice was further strengthened by another notice, which banned downtown gas stations from providing service to motorcycle drivers who don't have downtown licenses. In addition, motorcycles were not allowed to transport goods in seven major markets in Chenzhou.
The rule dealt a heavy blow to thousands of motorcyclists who were depending on the illegal taxi business as a major source of income, an unnamed insider told the newspaper.
The government said the situation was under control but did not provide detailed information about clashes between police officers and protesters.
Although the illegal motorcycle business posed a danger to traffic order, the government didn't adjust public transportation accordingly. On the contrary, ticket fares of some bus routes were even raised from 1 yuan to 2 yuan, far more expensive than nearby regions. And many areas were not covered by bus routes, causing inconvenience, a resident said.
"The motorcycles need to be managed, but the ban is not effective. The government was too lazy to work out a solution," said a resident who witnessed the protest.
The government said they will offer free job training to motorcyclists who are willing to take other jobs. Needy families that meet requirements can also receive a subsidy.
Over 1,000 motorcyclists gathered near a municipal government office building in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, yesterday in a petition drive, asking the government to withdraw a regulation forbidding motorcycles without downtown licenses and some mopeds from downtown areas.
The local government sent a large number of policemen to the area. Several police vehicles were overturned and protesters also damaged guardrails on the road. Police arrested 12 people for disturbing social order, Beijing News reported yesterday.
The new rule, which took effect on November 13, was meant to maintain traffic order in downtown Chenzhou, according to the local government, which blamed the motorcycles and mopeds of conducting an illegal taxi business for years.
The government's resolve to crack down on the illegal practice was further strengthened by another notice, which banned downtown gas stations from providing service to motorcycle drivers who don't have downtown licenses. In addition, motorcycles were not allowed to transport goods in seven major markets in Chenzhou.
The rule dealt a heavy blow to thousands of motorcyclists who were depending on the illegal taxi business as a major source of income, an unnamed insider told the newspaper.
The government said the situation was under control but did not provide detailed information about clashes between police officers and protesters.
Although the illegal motorcycle business posed a danger to traffic order, the government didn't adjust public transportation accordingly. On the contrary, ticket fares of some bus routes were even raised from 1 yuan to 2 yuan, far more expensive than nearby regions. And many areas were not covered by bus routes, causing inconvenience, a resident said.
"The motorcycles need to be managed, but the ban is not effective. The government was too lazy to work out a solution," said a resident who witnessed the protest.
The government said they will offer free job training to motorcyclists who are willing to take other jobs. Needy families that meet requirements can also receive a subsidy.
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