Free bus rides offered to ease road congestion_美文

Free bus rides offered to ease road congestion

"It looks like there are construction sites everywhere in Chengdu now," said Li Xiao-yong, a local taxi driver. "More often than not, I advise my passengers to get out of my car and take a motorbike taxi if they are in a hurry."

The congestion has also cut his daily turnover from more than 600 yuan ($90) to 450 yuan.

The average road speed during rush hour in the city was only 13 km per hour as of August, Chengdu Daily reported.

Traffic has also been a major source of pollution in the city.

Tu Zhi, deputy director of the transport committee of Chengdu, said at a news conference on Sept 12 that Chengdu will have another 2,000 buses on its streets by the end of this year and the city's seniors will be permitted to take 900 free bus rides every year from October.

Along with the free bus rides, the local subway company will offer residents a 20 percent discount when they use subway payment cards.

Questions:

1. What city is offering free bus rides?

2. How many routes will be involved?

3. How long will the free bus rides be offered?

Answers:

1. Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province.

2. 33 bus routes operating through downtown streets.

3. Until June 30 next year.

About the broadcaster:

Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.