Beijing is to introduce higher parking fees and reduce its
number of parking lots in a bid to ease traffic congestion.
With three million cars in the capital and 1,000 private
vehicles being added each month, the Beijing municipal committee of
communications hopes the new move will slow down the car-purchase
spree.
The city intends to cut the number of parking lots and raise
parking fees within the second ring road, Liu Xiaoming, deputy
director of the committee said.
A detailed plan will be implemented some time this year, he
said.
Liu said that the committee will strengthen the transportation
system and feels that everyone should help.
"It is every resident's responsibility to alleviate the traffic
jam," Liu said.
Parking fees in the city vary depending on the area. Most
parking lots in the Wangfujing area, where there's a cluster of
stores and shopping malls, charge 5 yuan (64 cents) an hour.
The price falls to about 2 or 3 yuan an hour at less busy
places.
Mao Baohua, a professor of the Beijing Jiaotong University, said
raising parking fees was a common way for major cities to relieve
traffic congestion.
Mao said parking fees could fluctuate based on the area and time
of the day.
"Parking fees in Beijing are much lower than in Shanghai and
Guangzhou but the traffic conditions are sometimes worse," he
said.
Li Jia, a clerk in Beijing, feels current parking fees are quite
affordable.
"I always try to find a cheaper place to park my cars, though
sometimes it means going further," he said.
He said he would consider abandoning his Audi when he travels to
the city if the parking fees were raised.
Many cities are introducing measures to deal with traffic
problems.
Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, is reportedly planning to
collect "congestion fees" during rush hours.
To alleviate traffic jams, Beijing has been promoting the use of
public transportation since last year.
Besides slashing the price of bus tickets, the city has
optimized its intricate and redundant bus lines to offer better
access to public transport.
This year, 40 new bus lines will be put into use and roads
allotted exclusively to buses will grow to 252 km, Liu said.
The construction of new subway lines is also being speeded
up.
Liu said he hopes more Beijing residents will opt for public
transport this year.
(China Daily April 18, 2007)