Higher parking fees unlikely to solve traffic problems, experts say

Regulations that will raise parking fees in downtown Beijing this April are drawing criticism from car owners who say authorities are more concerned about collecting revenues than solving the city's endemic traffic problems.

Officials have long debated changing parking rates in Beijing's most congested areas to ease traffic flows. But the new rules, which will double parking fees in 13 commercial and business areas, are unlikely to improve overcrowded roads, experts and drivers said yesterday.

Fees will increase from five yuan per hour to 15 yuan per hour for roadside parking in most downtown areas starting from April 1, the Beijing municipal development and reform commission said on Monday night.