beijing

• beijing has an estimated 5 million cars, the city centre is often gridlockd and congestion is predicted to get worse as the number of cars on the road grows
• since the 2008 olympic games, a wide range of strategies have been introduced to reduce the high level of traffic congestion
• the restrictions in beijing have led to a 20% drop in car use, there has been a 12% drop in the use of car parks in the city centre
• only 20% of people who apply to own a vehicle are allowed to do so
• cars are banned from the city one day a week, based on a number plate system and non-residents cannot bring a car into the city
• congestion charge and pollution tax has been introduced to help air quality
• 30 new metro lines and a rapid bus transit system were built in 2020