深圳 [Shenzhen] #1 - 沙井电动单车 [Shajing E-Bikes]

E-bikes are everywhere in Chinese cities, being a cheap, quick and easy way to negotiate the often chaotic traffic. I took all these photos in the space of about 15 minutes today.

I've never seen an actual British person ride one of these popular designs.

There are modern ones, rusted ones, long ones, short ones, some even flash neon lights.

Older bikes, held together with string and hope, co-exist with those polished to a sheen.

In Shajing you can hire migrant worker e-bike taxis to take you around for about 10元 (£1). Sometimes I pay more due to being a foreigner, a local tax I accept with good humour

They are illegal, however, and everyday a street war between the e-bikes and police occurs. If caught they confiscate the bike with no repayment in an attempt to clean up the streets, essentially taking the migrants means of income.

"The police are the biggest gang in China" one migrant tells me. Often the taxis refuse to take me, and those that do swerve down alleyways I'd never have otherwise seen to avoid the major checkpoints.