No car limits for Beijing during the Olympics
A lot of Olympic athletes are dreading the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing because of the awful air quality in the host city. The rapid growth of the car population in China combined with all the construction going on in China's largest cities is leading to an environmental disaster. The city of Shanghai is putting the brakes on the vehicle population by limiting the number of license plates they issue. Beijing on the other hand will take a different tack. Rather than putting limits on vehicle use they will encourage alternatives like public transit. They recently cut fares and opened a new subway line. Additional light rail lines will also be in place before next summer's games. Hopefully for the people of Beijing and the visiting athletes, they will make some real progress soon.
[Source: AFP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 8:49AM (11/07/2007)
Sadly, athletes shouldn't expect to see measurable air quality in Beijing before the Olympics.
Of more concern: What will the air look like in 5 or 10 years? It will take more than a new subway line.
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Murc 7:46PM (11/07/2007)
China is growing to fast for itsown good, and their air quality is going to do nothing but go down for the concievable future.
for the Olympics there next year....the air quality will be even worse then it is now.
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