Too many take Chengdu up on free bus fare offer
Source: Xinhua |
October 11, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, yesterday began to waive bus fares and offer discounts on subway fares in the city proper to encourage people to choose public transportation over private cars.
A spokesman with the Chengdu Municipal Public Transport Group Corp said the free bus fare policy will continue until June 30. Yesterday, 33 bus routes went fare-free, and that will increase to 44 by the end of the month.
The mega-city on Monday introduced a regulation ordering some vehicles off the streets on certain days depending on the license plate numbers, a system that has also been carried out in Beijing and some other Chinese cities to help ease traffic congestion.
However, the vehicle restriction and bus fare exemption policy brought new troubles yesterday morning, drawing larger-than-ever crowds to bus and subway stations.
Many residents complained on Weibo that they could not catch a bus in the morning.
"Today, I was lost in Chengdu's chaotic public transport system," wrote one, "Hejin firefly."
The spokesman for the public transport company said the company will continue to improve services by adding bus shuttles and opening more bus routes, among other measures, to cope with increasing demand for public transport.
A spokesman with the Chengdu Municipal Public Transport Group Corp said the free bus fare policy will continue until June 30. Yesterday, 33 bus routes went fare-free, and that will increase to 44 by the end of the month.
The mega-city on Monday introduced a regulation ordering some vehicles off the streets on certain days depending on the license plate numbers, a system that has also been carried out in Beijing and some other Chinese cities to help ease traffic congestion.
However, the vehicle restriction and bus fare exemption policy brought new troubles yesterday morning, drawing larger-than-ever crowds to bus and subway stations.
Many residents complained on Weibo that they could not catch a bus in the morning.
"Today, I was lost in Chengdu's chaotic public transport system," wrote one, "Hejin firefly."
The spokesman for the public transport company said the company will continue to improve services by adding bus shuttles and opening more bus routes, among other measures, to cope with increasing demand for public transport.
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