Elevators Ban Electric Bikes After Fire Injures Five

Communities across China tightened bans on electric bicycles in elevators this week after a rider’s battery exploded, injuring five people at a residential building in Shanghai, including a woman holding her grandson, Global Times reported on May 12. The woman suffered burns over 75% of her body, and she and the child were taken to a hospital ICU, where they remained on Tuesday. Many residential buildings in China have resorted to smart devices, which will stop elevators when they detect an electric bicycle inside. The public has called for tighter restrictions on electric bicycles in residential buildings, and most property managers have banned them on elevators or in entire residential buildings, only allowing them to park outdoors. Authorities said if the bicycle was modified, the owner could face criminal charges.