The Shanghai Municipal Government is to hold its first "No Car
Day" on September 22, following the four-day test held last week in
Beijing. Almost a third of the city's vehicles will be ordered off
the roads in a bid to improve air quality and ease congestion.
A statement on the city's construction and transportation
department website said anyone traveling within the Inner Ring Road
area between 7 am and 7 pm on that day will be urged to use public
transport or walk.
And in certain areas, such as Lujiazui and parts of Nanjing
Road, only public transport and service vehicles will be
allowed.
The plan is part of a national campaign to reduce exhaust
emissions, which are a major cause of pollution. More than 100
cities will hold a "car-free" day on September 22.
According to official figures, 80 percent of the pollution in
Shanghai's downtown area is caused by emissions from vehicles.
In 1994, authorities introduced a plan to limit the number of
vehicles on the city's streets by issuing and auctioning special
license plates. However, despite the rising cost of the plates -
one recently sold for more than 47,000 yuan (US$6,200) - the city
has seen its private vehicle population soar.
Authorities said September 22 will from now on be annual no car
day, and that every month on that day, workers at the city's
transportation department will be banned from using private or
company vehicles to commute.
The city is also seeking to amend the law on air pollution to
ban all vehicles that emit black smoke.
Xu Jing, a 30-year-old office worker, said she would not drive
on September 22. "But other than that, I will continue to use my
car, as I have become dependent on it."
The Shanghai government said additional public transports will
be provided on September 22, and a number of special events, such
as group walks, will be held.
(China Daily August 23, 2007)
