New Traffic Restriction Takes Effect in Beijing

A new traffic restriction has gone into effect in the Chinese capital to help maintain the smoother traffic flows and better air quality that Beijing experienced during the Olympic Games.

The restriction has received wide support by Beijing citizens, including private car owners.

Meanwhile, the municipal government has also introduced a series of measures to improve public transportation.

CRI's reporter Tu Yun has more.

Reporter:

Under the new traffic rule, 70 percent of government vehicles, as well as all corporate and private cars, must take turns staying off the roads one day a week. The new restriction will be implemented on a trial basis for six months until early next April.

During the first week, traffic police will only issue oral warnings to violators but not fine them. Later violators will receive fines of 100 yuan or nearly 15 U.S. dollars.

The latest government data indicate that Beijing has about 3.5 million passenger vehicles. About 1,200 new vehicles take to the roads everyday in the capital.

The restriction is expected to cut Beijing's average road traffic by 6 and a half percent and speed up the traffic flow by at least 8 percent.

Beijing citizens have shown their support to the restrictions.

"By driving one day less every week, we could save time and avoid the traffic jams." (male)
"I support the restriction. My car will be banned on the road every Wednesday. I have borne it in mind."

The municipal government has also exempted private car owners from the city's vehicle use tax for one month as encouragement and compensation for their efforts to help improve the environment.

Meanwhile, municipal transportation departments say they will boost public transportation service after the new restriction is implemented. Starting Monday, they will increase the city's public transportation capacity by 10 percent. They will also put the 2,100 barrier-free buses used for the Paralympic Games into regular operation.

Shi Shuguang, deputy general manager of Beijing Pubic Transport Holdings, Ltd., says his company will improve its services to better serve passengers.

"We will prolong the operation hours of buses, especially those passing the 10 departure stops and destinations of the subway. At least our last buses should operate longer than the last trains."

The subway runs about 18 hours till almost midnight every day.

Shi Shuguang also says there will be new bus routes designed for communities with more than 7,000 residents. A new subway line will be put into operation on a trial basis next year, bringing the total number of subway routes to 10.

And by 2015, those who live within the Fourth Ring Road will only have to walk one kilometer or less to reach a subway station.

During the Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing imposed a two-month restriction on vehicles, allowing them to drive on alternate days. The measure removed nearly 2 million cars off the roads daily.

The Olympic traffic restriction also eliminated almost 120,000 tons of vehicle pollutants, or about 63 percent of total vehicle emissions before the ban.

City traffic returned to its normal congestion after the original vehicle restrictions were lifted on three weeks ago.

Tu Yun, CRI news.