Beijing to take 30% of government cars off roads

Shanghai, September 28 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing will take nearly a third of government vehicles off the road and limit the use of other cars starting next month in the hope of improving the Chinese capital's air quality and traffic flow, the state media said today.

Beijing has announced its post-Olympics car restrictions to sustain the hard-won smooth traffic and good air quality during the Games. Under the new traffic system, 30 percent of government vehicles will be "sealed up for safekeeping" starting October 1, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau said on its Web site. Government-owned vehicles make up 10 percent of the city's more than 3 million automobiles.

The remaining government cars, together with privately owned vehicles, will be banned from roads starting October 11 on one out of every five weekdays depending on the last even-odd number of the vehicle's license plate. Cars with the plate number ending with 1 or 6 will be taken off roads on Monday, while those ending with 2 or 7 will be banned on Tuesday, 3 or 8 on Wednesday, 4 or 9 on Thursday and 5 or 0 on Friday.

The restrictions will be applicable within the Fifth Ring Road inclusive, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for private cars and round the clock for government and corporate vehicles.

The ban, which will continue for six months as a trial period until April 10, does not apply on weekends, nor does it apply to police wagons, ambulances, fire engines, buses, taxies and other public service vehicles.

After the clearer skies and smooth roads of the Olympics the city has been buzzing with discussions over whether the traffic controls that grounded cars on alternate days for two months could be extended.

Beijing is also considering raising downtown parking fees to discourage more vehicles off the road to ease congestion and make the sky bluer.