OPINION> Commentary
Chartered bus a good option
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-24 08:04

There should be more chartered buses to send people home before Spring Festival, but they must comply with government regulations, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:

For some people, chartered buses have become a preferred way of traveling home for Spring Festival during this year's peak traffic season. But many buses haven't yet received the nod from the government, for, some of them are not qualified for operation and may prove risky for travelers.

It's correct for the government to ban the operation of illegal chartered buses so that the market can be protected and public safety ensured. But the government should also take into account the tight traffic rush and people's anxiety to meet their families, and find ways to make the best use of this new approach.

For example, governments can take the initiative of offering chartered bus services for schools and factories, expand the scope for temporary operational certificates during Spring Festival, and allow more non-operational buses to be temporarily used by legal transport companies.

Meanwhile, every working unit can organize vehicles and use them to send employees home. Buses in travel agencies and car-leasing companies can also be used to send people home.

(China Daily 01/24/2009 page4)