To hike, or not to hike public transport fares

The Beijing municipal commission of development and reform is soliciting public opinion on whether fares for public transportation should be raised. For many Beijing residents, the 18-day (from July 3 to 20) exercise signals the end of the city's "low fare public transport system".

That more than 22,000 people have submitted over 37,000 suggestions in a week reflects the wide public concern over fare hikes and the complex nature of the issue.

Public transport fares in Beijing have been the lowest in the country since before the 2008 Olympic Games, when city authorities tried to encourage people to use public transport in order to ease traffic jams and reduce air pollution. Ordinary passengers using a public transport pass pay a meager 0.4 yuan ($0.06) for a bus ride while students pay even less - just 0.2 yuan - and the subway fare is a uniform 2 yuan. Public transport fares have remained unchanged in Beijing over the past seven years despite people's increasing incomes, rising inflation and constantly widening and lengthening of the city's public transport system.