The municipal government is earmarking 110 billion yuan ($14.6
billion) to improve its public transportation system, reduce the
price of tickets and ease congestion.
The initiative aims to lure an extra 5 million people to use
public transport by 2009, which will bring the city broadly in line
with other major metropolitan areas around the world.
Currently, more than 12 million people use public transport
daily in Shanghai, including taking buses, trolley buses, the
subway or taxis, according to the city's transportation
administration.
This accounts for 24 percent of the total traffic volume, said
Huang Xiaoyong, an official with the local traffic administration.
Other modes of transport include bicycles, motorcycles and
cars.
"The percentage [using public transport] should be raised from
the current 24 percent to 33 percent by 2009, nearer to the 36
percent average in developed countries," according to a recent
directive on developing the city's public transportation
system.
"That means we will have to attract 5 million more people to use
public transport every day," Huang said.
Among the 12 million people using public transport, 7.5 million
take buses and trolley buses every day, or 61 percent of the public
transport load. About 1.8 million passengers use the metro,
accounting for 15 percent. There were nearly 3 million rides in
taxis daily, or 24 percent.
An increase in public transportation is central to the city's
development plan.
While experts applauded the city's decision they also called for
the introduction of innovative public transport solutions.
Xia Liqing, a former director of the local urban planning
bureau, said improvements in public transportation should be based
on improved planning.
"Better urban planning will ensure passengers can quickly
transfer from the metro to buses," Xia said.
Xia said bus drivers should be paid more and called for
subsidies payable to public transportation companies, which could
suffer economic losses if tickets were made cheaper.
Lu Ximing, director of the Institute of Comprehensive Study on
Public Transport said: "Among the 60 transport hubs, those in
suburban areas are most important. Improving them will increase the
average speed of the public transport network covering the whole
city."
(China Daily September 11, 2007)