Capital mulls free buses during red alerts

Beijing could start running free bus services during red alerts for smog to help commuters affected by restrictions on private cars, according to the city transport authority.

Red alerts, the highest level in the government’s air-pollution warning system, automatically trigger measures aimed at cutting emissions, including allowing motorists to use private vehicles only every other day.

Other cities in northern China,includingShijiazhuang in Hebei province, Linfen in Shanxi province and Weinan in Shaanxi province, have already introduced free buses to transport commuters who are affected, and Beijing officialsarelookingatthefeasibility of offering similar services.

However, the capital will not adopt the policy without careful discussion due to potential safety issues, Rong Jun, a spokesman for the city’s transport commission, said at a news conference on Monday.

“Beijing has a huge population and its public transportation system handles a large volume of passengers every day,” he said. According to official data, about 20 million journeys are made daily in the city by bus or subway.

“To ensure security, we have already limited the number of passengers at 82 subway stations during rush hour,” Rong said. “It would be risky for us to provide free buses without careful consideration. We must ensure it won’t cause safety problems, such as overcrowding.”

He added that the commission has contacted cities that run free bus services during red alerts to provide data for analysis, but he denied the capital plans to introduce a congestion charge to reduce overall traffic congestion.

Cities across northern and central parts of China have experienced numerous days of heavy air pollution in recent months, with many issuing red or orange alerts.

Wang Canfa, a professor and environmental expert at the China University of Political Science and Law, suggested changing the rule barring vehicles from the road during smoggy days.

It is currently based on whether a license plate starts with an odd or even number. “We should really be limiting cars based on their emission levels,” Wang said.

We must ensure it won’t cause safety problems, such as overcrowding.” Rong Jun, spokesman for Beijing transport commission