Beijing Extends Vehicle Laws
Saturday, April 11th, 2009In a move to help curb pollution and address the traffic problem plaguing Beijing, it was announced that the post-Olympic restrictions will be extended to help ease traffic congestion and rising air pollution issues. The extension is not really surprising since natives saw the effects of that law in effect to this day.
The restrictions, based on license plate numbers, take 20 percent of the city’s 3.61 million vehicles off roads each weekday.
“It will be carried out from April 11 to April 10, 2010,” said Wang Zhaorong, spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications at a press conference.
Small changes have been made to post-Olympic vehicle restrictions, which began Oct. 11, 2008 and expire April 10.
For private cars, the new ban is only effective from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., compared to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. under the current rule. The restrictions remain in effect round the clock for government and corporate vehicles.
Residents will be allowed to drive on the Fifth Ring Road throughout the week.
Also, owners will have the same “off-day” for 13 weeks in a row as opposed to just four weeks. The new rotation was designed to reduce confusion.
There continues to be no restrictions on weekends and public holidays and for emergency vehicles, taxies, mass transit vehicles and other public service vehicles.
(Source) Xinhuanet
Tags: air pollution issues, beijing, confusion, corporate vehicles, emergency vehicles, license plate numbers, mass transit vehicles, million vehicles, private cars, public holidays, public service vehicles, small changes, traffic congestion, traffic problem, vehicle restrictions