Beijing cracks down on cars

2008-07-21 07:35

Beijing - Morning haze hung over Beijing on Monday, the first workday for restrictions on car use under a bold plan to clear the Olympic host city's notoriously polluted skies.

Under a two-month operation that started on Sunday, half of the capital's 3.3 million cars will be removed from city streets on alternate days, depending on whether the license plate ends in an odd or even number.

It could be several days before the impact of the measures - which also includes cutbacks on construction and factory closures - are noticeable. The government has not made public a specific target for vehicle emissions levels, one of the city's biggest sources of pollution, or said how it will measure air quality.

Wind a factor

Experts say the plan could still go wrong because unpredictable winds might blow pollution into Beijing from other provinces, or the lack of wind - common in August - could enable local pollution to build up.

Sun Weide, spokesperson of the Beijing Olympics organising committee, was optimistic.

"It can be easily felt that traffic is less heavy now and the number of vehicles on the road is clearly smaller. The weather has been good since yesterday," Sun said.

On Monday, traffic snaked along main thoroughfares and highways, but moved at a steady pace.

"Before we would be at a dead standstill," said a taxi driver who would give only his surname, Zhang, as he steered around cars. "Now it's better."

Drivers with even numbered plates were forced to take public transportation, where crowds remained surprisingly manageable.

"It seems that the subway isn't as busy as I expected. There are fans and air conditioning, so you don't feel very hot," said Chen Songde, who normally drives to work in Beijing.

Emission cuts

Besides the traffic plan, chemical plants, power stations and foundries had to cut emissions by 30% beginning on Sunday. Dusty, noisy construction in the capital was to stop entirely.

Those caught driving on days they shouldn't will be fined 100 yuan (R111), a pricey penalty even for the capital.

On many days, Beijing's skyline can barely be seen because of a thick, grey-brown haze that hangs over the city.

Already, many competitors in the August 8-24 Olympics are choosing to train away from Beijing, and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge has said outdoor endurance events lasting more than an hour will be postponed if air quality if poor.

Some 300 000 heavily polluting vehicles - ageing industrial trucks, many of which operate only at night - were banned beginning July 1.

- AP