Source: CCTV.com

07-09-2007 17:15

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympics

Beijing now has over 3 million motor vehicles on the roads, intensifying the pressure on the city's transport networks. Our reporter Han Bin takes a look at the capital's public transport system, and how Beijing residents are hoping preparations ahead of the Olympics are just the beginning of a smooth ride.

Rush hour in Beijing.

Such scenes are repeated almost every day.

For many of the city's 13 million residents, who rely on the bus system, just getting to work can mean a daily struggle against crowds and cars.

Yang Weiwei takes the Bus Number 1 to go to work. She pays only 40 Fen, or about 5 US cents for a single journey. Today, she is lucky to get a seat. Otherwise, she needs to stand for at least an hour. But taking the bus is the cheapest way.

Yang Weiwei, Beijing resident, said, "Generally speaking, travelling by bus is the most convenient way for me to travel. For our working group residents, public transport is still our primary means of transportation."

Though cheap, commuting by bus may take much longer than other options due to road conditions. And if passengers must transfer from more than one bus to another, it can get complicated. Trying to read bus timetables and schedules, or where it will take you, is not always easy. Bus timetables can be confusing, even for people speaking Chinese.