Bus firm offers free rides for elderly

A Beijing bus operator will allow 1.6 million people aged 65 and above to travel free on its buses from Jan 1, next year.

Peng Zilin, director of publicity for Beijing Public Transport Holdings Ltd (BPT), said yesterday all the company's buses have been renovated to ensure that more than 10 percent of seats are reserved for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and the disabled.

BPT statistics show there were 1.6 million people aged 65 or above at the end of last year, and this figure will grow to 1.9 million by 2010.