Everything ready for Beijing's trial on reducing traffic
From August 17th to 20th, traffic will be severely restricted in Beijing. Up to 1.3 million vehicles will be banned from circulation. The ban affects cars depending on the ending plate's number: cars which number end in an odd number will be banned two days and cars with ending in an even number will be banned from traffic the other two. Public vehicles and public transport won't be affected by the ban. A similar measure has been applied in Mexico City and some Italian cities.The ban is an idea to reduce the city's pollution, which, despite the city efforts in renewing power plants and taking the industries to the outskirts of the city, has reached alarming levels due to the increased traffic. Estimates are about 3.3 million motor vehicles on the road by August 2008, when the Olympic Games will be held. The measure will cut 1 million vehicles from Beijing's roads and although it was planned for two weeks, the local authorities have decided to try it in a smaller scale. Should this test be satisfactory, the measure will be applied during the Games.
A few days ago, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, announced that some endurance competitions could be seriously affected by the high levels of pollution of the city and they could even have to be canceled to protect the athletes' health if the situation is severe enough.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Don 7:55PM (8/14/2007)
That's going to be one giant clusterfuck.
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terrence_bethea 6:28PM (8/15/2007)
I find it fascinating that the IOC didn't consider the ridiculously foul air in Beijing. It's usually a bad sign when you can see the air.
I still remember riding in a taxi in Jakarta with two smokers. I rolled down the window and the air quality was worse OUTSIDE. I hear Beijing is worse.
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GoodCheer 2:41PM (8/15/2007)
I suppose those rich enough can easily enough get around it by owning two cars with different plate numbers.
I can't help but think that a congestion charge is a better solution, not for it's impacts on different economic classes, but at least for being consistent one day to the next.
Of course environmental regulation - emissions controls are an even better solution, but for some reason that's the one thing China seems unwilling (or unable) to copy from the West.
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Phil L. 3:43PM (8/15/2007)
I imagine trusty screwdrivers are being fingered in many pockets today, as furtive eyes check a darkened street, full of parked cars. Surely the rate of license plate theft in Beijing is skyrocketing at this moment.
I'm curious: Have officials taken any steps to help reduce the need for travel in Beijing during this time? If all they've done is mandate a reduction, people who still need to get around will find imaginative ways to dodge the restriction. The net effect will likely not meet official expectations.
I can't wait to hear the stories during the Olympics. People will have had some time to learn from this test, and improve their methods!
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Phil L. 7:46AM (8/21/2007)
...and the results are in.
Per the Washington Post, the 4-day test of restricted driving in Beijing resulted in...
...wait for it...
A slight *increase* in pollution.
Officials are blaming it on weather conditions, but this doesn't bode well for clear skies during the Olympics. Or, for that matter, any other time.
Link probably requires free registration:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/20/AR2007082002011.html?sub=AR
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