Transport plans for World Expo 2010, including more use of public transport, have received positive responses from the public in an online poll.

Around 49 percent of respondents to a poll on www.eastday.com expressed willingness to take public transport to the Expo site for the six-month event starting May 1. Residents were asked to respond to detailed traffic plans and the results were disclosed yesterday by Shanghai construction and transport authorities.

The Expo transport plan was put online for public comment from January 8 to 18.

Final details are being worked out.

The plan encourages use of public transport, which was discussed by officials with the Shanghai urban and rural construction and transport commission at a working conference yesterday.

The most controversial aspect of the plan — possible banning of cars on certain days — will only be put into effect in case of extreme and widespread traffic congestion, officials said.

The plan, which was used during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, is being held in reserve. It would ban vehicles based on the last numeral in their license plates. For example, plates ending in "1" and "6" might be banned on Monday, "2" and "7" on Tuesday, and so on through Friday.

If more severe remedies are needed, the city could limit driving on alternate days, based on odd numbers and even numbers in the plate's serial number.

A proposal, also held in reserve, to cut the use of official cars on certain days was supported by the public in general, the working meeting was told.

Motorcycles will be limited around the Expo site and will be banned entirely on some trunk roads.

A complete Expo traffic information platform is being constructed and will collect, analyze and release traffic data. When it is ready, it can be accessed via the official Expo 2010 Website, TV and radio stations, a hotline, GPS terminal and other sources.

The traffic plan was drafted by government departments and agencies including traffic, transport, port and traffic police.

The Expo site should be accessible from anywhere in the city within 90 minutes by buses, subways and special taxis, officials said.

(en.expo2010.cn February 22, 2010)