Unhappy grandpas bid sad farewell to a favorite form of getting around
The streets of Beijing are slowly losing a familiar sight — mini four-wheel electric vehicles called laotoule — and the elderly who have embraced them are losing a favorite form of transport.
“It’s like losing a part of our lives,” a 71-year-old Beijing resident surnamed Li told Shangyou News, reflecting the sentiment of many seniors in the wake of the city’s ban on the popular vehicles.
Laotoule, or “happy grandpas,” became such a hit among the elderly in the past decade because the vehicles were a cheap, convenient way to navigate the sprawling city for a generation often beset by limited physical mobility.
“They gave us a sense of freedom,” said Li.
On the Chinese online retail platform Tmall, “happy grandpas” range in prices from 2,000 yuan (US$279) to 20,000 yuan for high-end versions resembling Land Rovers or Porches.
But the “happy grandpas,” which were operating with minimal traffic regulation, didn’t always have a happy safety record.
“They were never meant for busy city traffic,” said legal expert Yuan Sanhui, who noted the vehicles’ common lack of seatbelts and proper lighting.
The death of a young teacher struck by one of the vehicles in the central province of Henan in November was the final straw in official tolerance.
The incident, among others, prompted Beijing authorities to announce a blanket ban on laotoule, citing safety concerns. Other domestic cities have followed suit.
A recent poll showed a divided public, with 56.5 percent of respondents supporting the ban.
“The streets will feel safer without these laotoule vehicles,” Zhang Lin, a mother of two, commented on the social media platform Weibo.
Many seniors like Li are devastated by the ban on what they considered a lifeline to the world around them.
“I used it for everything — grocery shopping, visiting friends,” Li said.
In fact, he used his laotoule for five years to ferry his young grandson the 15 kilometers to school every day. He bought the vehicle in 2018 for over 20,000 yuan. It reached top speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour.
“They say it’s illegal, but I don’t see how,” Li argued. “I’ve been driving it for years without incident. It’s slowmoving. How dangerous can that be? It’s certainly safer than a motorcycle.”
The market for “happy grandpas” has grown by over half annually since 2013, reaching a production volume of 1 million units per year, according to the Shandong Province Automobile Industry Association.
In 2022, Beijing’s Traffic Management Bureau reported 131 accidents involving laotoule, resulting in 138 deaths. Last year, 71 percent of the victims were the drivers themselves, who were mainly 60 years or older. Some 85 percent of them lacked a driver’s license or any formal road training.
Liu Jian, deputy squad leader of the Vehicle Management Department of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau, said most laotoule lack a differential, making them prone to tipping over during turns.
Additionally, their plastic plexiglass windshields lacks the strength and toughness of standard automotive tempered glass.
Ahead of the ban, many elderly drivers in Beijing began to part with their beloved laotoule, either selling them at reduced prices or transporting them back to their hometowns.
The government offered subsidies up to 1,500 yuan for early disposal of the vehicles.
“We had no choice but to adapt,” said Li, whose grandson is now taken to school in his parents’ car.
The ban on laotoule raises questions about how to find alternative transport for the elderly. Proposals include subsidized taxi services and expanded public transportation routes.
“It’s about balancing safety with mobility needs,” Professor Song Xiangqing from Beijing Normal University told Shangyou News.
Beijing is replacing electric tricycles used in postal delivery, landscaping and sanitation work with legally compliant models, registered with license plates. Some former laotoule users, including Li, said they hope some similar form of legally registered, affordable and slow threewheel vehicles could be a viable alternative.
Legal three-wheelers, classified as regular tricycles, are restricted from operating inside the Sixth Ring Road in the capital. Elderly living outside this area, who are 70 years or younger, can obtain a D-class driving licenses for these vehicles.
“Future electric vehicles should meet lower mileage needs,” said Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association. “A specialized license for micro electric vehicles could enhance the safety awareness of elderly drivers.”
The Zhejiang Province government approved the establishment of the Qiantang River Greater Bay Area Wetland Park this month, with the first phase due to open in May.
Of utmost importance in the environment, wetlands play critical roles in water filtration, flood control, and shoreline stability. They are also considered to be biologically diverse as they support a wide range of plant and animal species.
The wetland covers around 30 percent of the bay area in Hangzhou, or 4,387 hectares. It has been a key point of the East Asia-Australasia migratory corridor for many years. This location has seen over 140 birds, including black storks, swans, Oriental white storks, black-faced spoonbills and larger white-fronted geese.
The park’s main goal is to protect the ecological system. Ecologists frequently use rare species that are sensitive to the environment to assess the state of the environment. Local governments are now working to improve the water quality in shoals and marshes to increase biodiversity and attract more scarce species.
Migratory birds use the mudflats of the Qiantang River as a temporary wintering camp throughout the winter. They usually rest for a few days before taking off again, refreshed. The bay region in comparatively mild Hangzhou is an important transit station on its way south.
In early December, the birds pass through or rest in Hangzhou. Because of the early snowfall in northern China, it can happen earlier at times. Most migratory birds divide their journey into segments and rest every 100 kilometers.
With its wetlands, weeds, shrimp and fish, the bay area is an ideal habitat for birds. Several rare species that have appeared in recent years attest to its improvements, particularly in the water environment.
Local governments want to build service centers, bird-watching pavilions, waterfront promenades and docks in the park. After completion, the park will be the ideal place to see Qiantang tidal bores and birds at the same time. The park will have educational spots to spread ecological knowledge and raise people’s awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation.
The new park is four times the size of the Xixi Wetland National Park. They both function as Hangzhou’s lung and a bird sanctuary. Local governments have also constructed wetland parks in the Dajiangdong area, the Grand Canal, the Fuchun River, Xiang Lake and Sanbai Pond over the last five years.
Locals refer to the Xiang Lake as the “sister” of the West Lake. It is close to the Neolithic Relic Site of Kuahu Bridge. The Saibai Pond is the largest lake in Yuhang District. It links to the Grand Canal and is known for its abundant fishing resources.
Zhejiang Province’s wetlands cover 10.9 percent of the total geographical area. So far, Zhejiang has two wetlands on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands list and three national-level wetlands.
Mangroves in Zhejiang emerged in the 1950s. Longgang County now boasts 30 hectares of mangroves, making it one of the country’s northernmost mangroves.
The trees’ average height has already reached 4.5 meters. The Longgang Mangroves Wetland was added to the list of nationally protected reserves in November.
Mangroves are known as “coastal warriors” because they defend coastline stability, operate as a carbon sink and boost biodiversity. This mangrove wetland is an ideal habitat for migratory birds such as Eurasian spoonbills, ruffs and red-breasted geese.
To protect the maritime ecology, the Longgang government has established a protected area to breed fish. Fish stocks have steadily rebounded after two decades of protection.
The wetlands near the Grand Canal, which flows across northernmost Zhejiang Province, feed the marshes along the way.
These dense marshes are famous for their freshwater fish. The landscape is distinguished by the thickly dotted mounds, where the local farmers grow mulberry trees and reeds. Now it is idyllic, with serene water and pastoral rural life.