Beijing Test traffic control for the Olympics
cjf...@gmail.com
system this coming weekend.
Cars with odd number license plates will be allowed on the road on odd
numbered dates and even number license plates on even numbered dates.
The below is quoted directly from their website.
http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BjToday/t806408.htm
Quote:
Driving Less for "Good Luck Beijing" Test Events
Drivers in Beijing, mostly private car owners, have been urged to
drive less during the period of "Good Luck Beijing" test events for
next year's Olympics amid efforts to ease traffic congestion and
improve air quality.
They have also been told to leave their cars at home From Aug. 17 to
20 and choose other means of transport, such as buses, subways, taxis
or bikes, in answering a call by the Beijing municipal government,
according to a proposal jointly issued by about 500 drivers' clubs,
non-governmental environment groups, university students'
associations, governmental organizations and businesses, which have
jointly sponsored a "No Car Day" drive.
>From Aug. 17 to 20, the city will have cars with odd-numbered license
plates and those with even-numbered ones hit the roads on alternate
days, Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Environmental
Protection Bureau, said.
The use of about 1.3 million automobiles, excluding taxis, buses,
police cars and ambulances, will be banned for the four days to test
the effects of this move on air quality.
The city plans to adopt this practice to ensure clean air during the
2008 Olympics in Beijing, Du said.
Liu Xiaoming, deputy director of the municipal transportation
commission, said they will increase public transport to meet commuting
demand during the traffic control.
Exhaust discharged by vehicles is a major source of pollution in the
capital. A city with a population of about 16 million, Beijing now has
more than 3 million vehicles and more than 4 million drivers.
The Beijing "No Car Day" drive was first launched in May last year by
more than 100 drivers' clubs, to encourage drivers in the city to
leave their cars at home at least one day a month in order to ease
traffic jams, reduce noise and improve air quality in the Chinese
capital.
The "No Car Day" drive has met positive responses from car owners in
Beijing.
On the World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, last year, more
than 200,000 private car owners in Beijing did not drive, and during
the Nov. 1-5 period last year, when the China-Africa Forum summit was
held, 410,000 private car owners left their vehicles at home, Du said.