Following our recent report on the ten-day traffic jam in Huailai, China, we note that the country has started to attempt tackling the rapidly increasing issue of car traffic and congestion.
With around 2,000 new cars coming onto the roads of Beijing every day, short
term measures to try and control the traffic include higher parking fees and an
appeal for people to choose jobs near their homes. Longer term, there will be
more subways and more buses on the roads to boost public transport in the city
of 19 million people and more than 4.5 million vehicles. People will also be
encouraged to ride bicycles – or go back to riding bicycles, as the case may
be.
term measures to try and control the traffic include higher parking fees and an
appeal for people to choose jobs near their homes. Longer term, there will be
more subways and more buses on the roads to boost public transport in the city
of 19 million people and more than 4.5 million vehicles. People will also be
encouraged to ride bicycles – or go back to riding bicycles, as the case may
be.
China, the world’s second-largest economy, overtook the United States last year
as the world’s biggest car market and now has 199 million motor vehicles, with
20 million being added every year, according to government figures.
as the world’s biggest car market and now has 199 million motor vehicles, with
20 million being added every year, according to government figures.
Beijing in particular has become notorious for traffic
problems, with people being stuck in their cars for hours not an uncommon
problem. And despite China spending billions of dollars on roads and railways,
two-thirds of Chinese cities face the same traffic congestion problems as
Beijing, the Ministry of Public Security said in October.
problems, with people being stuck in their cars for hours not an uncommon
problem. And despite China spending billions of dollars on roads and railways,
two-thirds of Chinese cities face the same traffic congestion problems as
Beijing, the Ministry of Public Security said in October.