September 03, 2007 12:10 Beijing Time
After four days' traffic ban in Beijing to test the effect on air quality for the Olympic Games, the question whether such a traffic ban should become regular has triggered a debate between private car owners and those without cars. Among 2,968 respondents, 78.2 percent of those without a private car call for a permanent traffic ban, while 61.9 percent of private car owners object to it, according to an online survey jointly launched by China Youth Daily and internet portal sina.com. During Aug. 17 to 20, a traffic ban to test the effect on air quality for the Olympic Games demanded drivers with even-numbered license plates, excluding taxis, buses and emergency vehicles to stay off the roads on 17 and 19 or face fines. Odd-numbered cars were banned on 18 and 20. The ban removed 1.3 million or one third of automobiles from Beijing's perpetually grid locked streets each day. The air quality was "fairly good" during the four-day trial, with the air pollution...
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