The underdeveloped public transport system in major Chinese cities is one of the most talked about causes of traffic congestion.

Reasonably priced but less efficient and crowded bus rides are no longer popular for relatively well-off residents, or those on strict schedules. However for regular commuters and people who cannot afford a private vehicle, or taxi service, public transport is and will be their only choice. These regular commuters are the overwhelming majority so it is good the Ministry of Construction, the national caretaker of urban public transport, has finally made up its mind to press for changes.

On Saturday, the ministry urged all large and medium-sized cities to refine local public transport networks in order for public transport to account for 30 per cent of local passenger flow by 2011.

The nationwide average now is below 10 per cent.

It is a relief that the ministry, long pre-occupied with construction and renovation in urban development, has at last seen the limitations of widening roads.

In Beijing, for example, traffic congestions have hardly been eased in spite of continuous road-widening projects.

World Bank data made public at the Saturday meeting show that average rush-hour vehicle speed on trunk lines between Beijing's second and third ring roads dropped from 45 kilometres per hour in 1994 to below 10 kilometres in 2005.

The ministry's proposal to transform urban traffic signal systems and allow certain privileges for buses may be conducive to restoring commuter interest. But its implementation will take a lot of brainwork.

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