Public forum to discuss cutting subway fares

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CHINA / National

By Wu Yong (China Daily)

Updated: 2007-09-22 09:40

A meeting will be held in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss the possibility

of reducing subway fares in a bid to encourage more people to use public

transport.

The municipal transportation administration bureau has offered two

proposals: Either lower the price of a one-way ticket to 2 yuan (25

cents) or adopt a flexible pricing scheme ranging from 2-4 yuan according

to the distance traveled.

The preferred first option will cut prices by a third and benefit about

80 percent of passengers, Zhang Wanheng from the Beijing municipal

development and reform commission said.

"The new prices are designed to get more people out of private cars and

onto the public transportation system," he said.

The commission said 25 people will take part in the hearing, including

government officials, transport experts and members of the public. Other

locals can apply to watch.

The proposed price cuts have been well received by the public.

Li Jing, a housewife, said: "News of a price reduction is great after

always hearing about food and house prices going up all the time. I just

hope it is a long-term policy and not just a temporary thing."

A source close to the commission said the subsidies will cost the local

government 1 billion yuan ($133 million) a year.

With the Olympic Games now less than a year away, authorities in the

capital have invested heavily in the the city's metro system.

Currently, three lines are under construction and a fourth is scheduled

to break earth by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the Beijing

municipal institute of city planning & design, said.

More than 100 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, took part

in the country's first-ever official "Car-Free Day" on Saturday, which

was held to raise people's awareness of energy saving and environmental

protection.

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