A special bus lane for express commuter services from Tongzhou district to downtown Beijing has received a mixed response from potential passengers.

The 17.4-kilometer route, which is a no-go zone for cars and trucks, was opened on Tuesday and is aimed at alleviating the capital's chronic road congestion.

However, the new lane has sparked heated debate among residents and netizens, with more than 5,000 logging on to discuss the launch on Batong Subway's official website since May 18. A simple search on Sina also found more than 400 micro blog entries on the issue over the same period.

Many raised doubts about whether the traffic plan will have the desired effect, such as Zhao Huijin, 24, who travels 45 minutes every day from her home in Tongzhou to her job downtown at China International Travel Service's booking center.

"I don't think it'll help me save time. The subways and buses to the office are always crowded. I'm always late for work," she said. "The government should provide comfortable public transport and control bus operating times."

However, 30-year-old Zhang Xin, who works in an office in Chaoyang district and regularly spends more than 30 minutes in traffic jams, told METRO she welcomes the expressway, adding: "I hope it will encourage car owners to choose public transport instead of drive."

More than 90,000 Tongzhou residents commute to central areas of Beijing every day, according to official data. Roughly 67,000 use the Batong Subway Line, with another 12,000 riding buses.

Statistics from Beijing's transport commission show the subway line is almost always overloaded, with the average capacity reaching 135 percent last year. Officials say they hope the new non-stop bus lane will help reduce that to at least 114 percent.

During the peak hours of 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm, Beijing Bus Company runs 766 buses across 18 lines. Routes that will use the new express lane include No 312 and No 647.

An officer with the company, who refused to give her name, said technicians in the control room will monitor all services using a Global Positioning System.

Wang Tiejie, a researcher with the Changping district traffic management bureau, said the most important thing is ensure the running times for buses using the new lane.

"The idea of the special lane is good, but with the traffic conditions on the ground I'm not optimistic," he said. "Although we have many bus lanes, people are always late for their work because of the traffic congestion."

China Daily

(China Daily 05/24/2011)