Limiting the use of private cars is not a good solution to the
traffic problem, says an article in Guangzhou Daily. The
following is an excerpt:
Wang Fengwu, an official from the Ministry of Construction,
hoped 50 percent of residents in major cities would use public
transportation so that traffic in these cities could be
improved.
One of the incentives, he mentioned, was to make it more costly
to use private automobiles, like raising parking fees or increasing
the price of license plates.
This official is right to encourage more use of public
transportation, but his suggestions are not good.
Of course, fewer people will purchase automobiles if they are
more costly to maintain. But it would also result in a lot of
negative effects.
In many major Chinese cities, the public transportation system
is not well planned or established. The buses are crowded at peak
times, and it takes hours to travel within the city. As a result,
many choose to buy their own cars to save the hassle of trying to
squeeze into an already full subway car.
It affects social justice or even threatens stability when only
the rich would be able to afford to use private cars and the less
well-off park their cars at home and take public
transportation.
To encourage the use of public transportation, a simple solution
is to improve its appeal.
(China Daily September 13, 2007)