Chinese School - Campaign's green aim

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Opinion / Commentary

Campaign's green aim

(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-19 07:22

The main aim of the "no-car day" is not to curb the sale of cars, but to
seek a way to build a faster, more convenient and greener urban public
transportation system, says an article in People's Daily. The following
is an excerpt.

As many as 108 Chinese cities have joined the first China urban public
transportation week and no-car day, which kicked off on Saturday.

During the period, government officials of all the cities will take the
lead in participating in various events to encourage residents to take
green transportation. The environment and transportation systems will
also be monitored.

For China, a country where private cars are becoming more popular, the
no-car day is not to curb the sale of cars, but explore ways to build an
efficient and environmentally friendly public transportation system. To
give priority to the development of public transportation is of great
importance. We should also cultivate the idea of a "people-oriented"
transportation system.

A good transportation system is key to encouraging the public to use it.
But the fact is that the planning and construction of many urban roads in
China usually gives priority to private cars.

According to statistics, only 10 to 25 percent of urban residents take
public transportation in China's large and medium-sized cities; whereas
40 to 60 percent of urban residents in developed countries take public
transportation.

Such shortage of public transportation resources obviously cannot satisfy
the demands of the ever-increasing population of cities and their desire
to travel.

Even worse, motor vehicles often encroach upon the limited sidewalks and
non-motor vehicle roads. During the no-car day, the Ministry of
Construction has banned motor vehicles from sidewalks and non-motor
vehicle roads. This measure should not be temporary, but instead be made
permanent.

(China Daily 09/19/2007 page10)

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