(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-21 07:16

Beijing's traffic and air quality exercise should not only be for the coming Olympic Games, says an article in Oriental Morning Post. The following is an excerpt:

The municipal government of Beijing launched a traffic and air quality exercise from Friday to yesterday. Vehicles with odd and even license plates were alternately allowed on the roads during these four days. The exercise was to study the impact of car emissions on air quality, the impact of car numbers on traffic and whether public transportation could cope with the reduction of private cars.

The first two days saw an improvement in traffic flow, a reduction in accidents and better air quality. And public transportation satisfied the needs of commuters.

The exercise was in aid of next year's Olympic Games. The experience of some developed countries show that certain restrictions on the use of vehicles can help improve urban traffic and environmental quality. Beijing's exercise together with last year's ban on government vehicles during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on Sino-African Cooperation, help in finding a solution to air pollution.

As pointed out in the municipal government's open letter, to restrict the use of vehicles is to meet the requirements of the Olympic Games and also to realize the goal of building a city suitable for living.

At present, to meet the requirements of the Games is a pressing issue. In the long run, to build Beijing into a city suitable for living and realize the harmonious development of the economy, society, and nature is another great goal.

In cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the number of vehicles will rapidly increase. Besides congestion, air and noise pollution may become serious social problems. The successful four-day exercise, welcomed by residents, has provided the transportation management with a good reference.

However, apart from government efforts to citizens' co-operation, from technical advancement in urban management to the upgrading of administrative concepts, more must be done to improve traffic and environmental quality.

To build Beijing into a clean city, and China into a prosperous, harmonious country, we should not only cast our eyes on the 2008 Olympic Games. More reforms must be introduced to promote China's overall advancement. Having said that, the Olympic Games no doubt will be an accelerator for the nation's development.

(China Daily 08/21/2007 page10)