Xu Yichao Explains Shanghai E-Bike Passenger Rules in Fluent English

What changed

Shanghai traffic officer Xu Yichao stopped two Thai tourists on Nov. 5 after spotting an adult passenger riding on an electric bicycle in Jing’an district. He explained the rule in fluent English and issued a written warning, since Shanghai regulations prohibit cyclists from carrying passengers over age 12 and this was a first-time, low-harm violation.

Why it matters

The encounter shows what strict enforcement looks like when the person being stopped cannot speak the local language. The tourists received both a clear explanation and a safety warning, while the rule was still applied.

Xu’s English came from police-academy courses, personal practice and additional training for cases involving foreigners. His colleagues say bilingual routine enforcement is now common in the busy district, where international visitors are frequent.

That matters as Shanghai’s overseas visitor numbers rise: the city recorded 5.31 million visitors from abroad in the first half of 2026, up 27.82% from a year earlier. The practical test for a more international city is not just whether visitors can arrive easily. It is whether an ordinary traffic stop can be handled clearly, politely and according to the same rule.