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Beijing improves transportation
(cctv.com)
Updated: 2006-10-09 17:16
The Beijing Municipal Transportation Committee is hoping the Olympics are just the beginning of a better transportation system for the capital.
When bidding for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing promised the International Olympic Committee that it will take less than half an hour for athletes to get to any venue from their living quarters.
A test drive from the Olympic village to the boxing venue, about 11 kilometers, shows it takes 56 minutes during rush hour, compared to 28 at other times.
So how does the committee intend to shave off around 30 minutes to hit the promised time?
Liu Xiaoming, from Beijing Transportation Committee, said: "It's very normal to have a big difference between rush hour and other times. We have set up around 300 kilometers of Olympic special lanes on 107 roads, between Olympic villages and venues. The designated speed is 60 kilometers per hour. So we think we can honor our promise."
According to the official, Beijing will use the 2008 Olympics as a chance to speed up construction of a skeleton for the public transportation system. It will consist mainly of rail lines and express bus ways. Only 28% of Beijing's commuters use public transportation, far behind the 58% in other large cities in the world.
When the new system is completed, city officials hope it will not only work for the Olympics, but keep the public moving long afterward.
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