Associated Press in Beijing – Updated on Jun 23, 2008
The Beijing city government said on Monday it had ordered half of its cars off the road leading up to the Olympics in an early effort to clean up the air for the games and save energy.
Half of all government and Communist Party cars will not be used starting on Monday until July 19, the city said in a notice on its website.
From July 20, another regulation kicks in that will allow vehicles on the road only on odd or even days, depending on their license plate number.
“To meet the air quality standards and to realise safe and smooth traffic is our solemn promise to the international community,” the Beijing government notice said.
New sports venues and US$40 billion spent to improve China’s infrastructure have not disguised the fact that Beijing’s air quality remains a contentious issue for the games.
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge had said outdoor endurance events lasting more than an hour will be postponed if air quality is poor.
Organisers announced details last week of a plan to pull half of Beijing’s 3.3 million vehicles off the roads during the Olympics to help clean the city’s noxious air for the games.
The car ban is part of an anti-pollution plan that also will halt construction and heavy industry during the Olympics, which begin in seven weeks.
Under one plan, vehicles will be allowed on the roads on alternate days â according to even or odd car registration numbers â from July 20 until September 20.
In addition, 300,000 heavy polluting vehicles â ageing industrial trucks, many of which operate only at night â will be banned from July 1.
The order also follows a meeting last week of Beijing’s State Council that urged government departments to cut their oil use, as part of authorities’ plans to create a more energy efficient society. They were urged to cut the oil consumption of public vehicles by 20 per cent, according to Xinhua.