OLYMPICS/ Facelift
Beijing to test effects of less cars
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-10 08:52
BEIJING - The Chinese capital will ban the use of about 1.3 million automobiles for four days this month to test the effects of this move on environmental quality, the city's environmental protection bureau announced on Thursday.
The city plans to adopt this practice to ensure clean air during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
From August 17 to 20, the city will have cars with odd-numbered license plates and those with even-numbered ones hit the roads on alternate days, said Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.
Du said the ban doesn't apply to taxis, buses, police cars and ambulances.
"The traffic control will enable us to take about 1.3 million vehicles off the roads every day," he said, noting that environmental protection experts will collect data to judge effects of the measure.
Exhaust discharged by vehicles is a major source of pollution in the capital. In November last year, Beijing exercised traffic control during the Sino-Africa summit and pollution level dropped, Du said.
Liu Xiaoming, deputy director of the municipal transportation commission, said they will increase public transport to meet commuting demand during the traffic control.
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