Half of government cars ordered off road in Beijing

Shanghai, June 24 (Gasgoo.com) The Beijing city government began ordering cars off the road on Monday in a final effort to clean up the city’s air before the August Olympic Games, The authorities hope the efforts will help ease congestion, reduce emissions and save resources for a greener Olympics seven weeks away.

Under the edict, half of all government and Communist Party cars will no longer be used from Monday until July 19, and on July 20 another regulation will kick in to allow vehicles on the road only on odd or even days, depending on their license plate numbers. The exact number of cars to be affected by yesterday's move and its effect on the capital's air quality and traffic will be made known to the public soon.

Beijing is determined that its anti-pollution plan will bring air quality up to an acceptable standard by the start of the Games. As well as the restrictions on government and personal vehicles, 300,000 of the most polluting vehicles - largely ageing industrial trucks - will be banned from July 1, while construction and heavy industry will be halted during the Games.

Officials also expect an increase in the use of public transportation, with several new subway lines set to open. About 95 percent of the city's 66,000 taxis would be operating during the games, along with 21,000 buses. "To meet the air quality standards and to realize safe and smooth traffic is our solemn promise to the international community," Beijing city government said in a statement.

Chinese officials hope the move will ease gloabl concerns over the poor air quality in the city. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said earlier that outdoor endurance events (such as marathon, road cycling, triathlon, race walking) which last more than an hour will be postponed if air quality is poor.

They also hope that the motoring restrictions during the Games will show immediate benefit. During a test of the alternate day vehicle ban in August last year, about 1.3 million cars were taken off the city roads each day and the amount of pollutants discharged was reportedly cut by 5,815 tons.