As part of a set of calculations I've been doing since two years ago, I keep detailed records of where I ride the vehicles, how much distance, and the approximate savings from (mainly) taxi fare.
The potential of scooters and motorcycles to save both time and money cannot be stated enough here, given that it is by far the most convenient way to get around. This spring especially we have had the best weather for riding. It has hardly rained at all, and the temperatures are well above normal. Even with less than ideal weather conditions as in past years, the scooters and motorbikes still come out way ahead.
Shanghai suffers from a serious traffic congestion problem, and is getting worse and worse each year. It's not just actual road traffic that is bad, but there is the considerable 'human traffic' factor with overcrowded subways, buses, etc. Related to this is the fact that the subway system is not all that convenient to use, despite how it looks impressive from the maps and designs, etc. This is especially apparent at interchange stations, where the probability of missing the next train increases if you've just gotten off the previous one.
Locals know these things all too well, and that's why they immediately bolt for the doors and run, in order to increase the probability of catching the next train. Basically, everyone is either late or about to be late.
Another thing is that most of the new bus and train stations have been relocated to the suburbs. Not only do the trains and buses cost more than the past, due to the older services having been phased out, but there is the extra hassle, time, and money involved of going downtown to and from these transfer hubs. A good example of this is the new Hongqiao railway station and airport hub. It is a common situation for trains and flights to get in late, and then the public transit has stopped running (usually after 9pm). What happens then is most local passengers just camp out overnight at the train station instead of taking an expensive taxi into the city.
The reality is that the development of inter-city and intra-city transport in the last five years or so has generally made things worse for the average Zhou. Despite superficial appearances of brand new transport hubs and bullet trains, things were actually more convenient in the past on a practical level.
Enter the motorcycle and the scooter.
Despite how some locals would regard these vehicles as a step backward, they are actually a step forward. A scooter, for example, takes you door-to-door and eliminates the hassle of going to a subway station, passing through security, changing lines, walking, etc. During rush hour, when the cars are at a standstill and throngs of people crowd the sidewalks, you can easily zip around and get to places on time.
In other words, you can be punctual in a city where everyone else is late or going to be late.
The money savings are also substantial. Rough calculations have shown I'm now ahead almost 50,000 RMB by consistently using scooters and motorbikes.
Are there risks involved? Absolutely. Like getting into an accident. You just don't allow it to happen, similar to how you don't allow your valuables to get lost or stolen.
You might say, well, what if you can't prevent an accident by the other guy or you can't prevent someone from stealing your wallet on the overcrowded subway.
If getting your wallet with the credit cards stolen or getting into a motor vehicle accident in China is the worst damn nightmare you could ever imagine happening to you in your life, then you would obviously see to it that those things don't happen. A year later, I'm still going strong baby! Haven't lost a single thing this year.
So on that note, protect your valuables, don't ride crowded public transit, and get on a scooter instead.
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