The Chinese government is taking productive steps to reduce the runaway congestion and air pollution that are making Beijing unlivable, writes Heshuang Zeng.
With the most painful commute in the world, according to IBM's Commuter Pain Study, and frequent particulate matter levels six times higher than the daily limit recommended by the World Health Organization, Beijing seems in no danger from being described as a livable city. However, according to Zeng, the city's government has acknowledged the congestion and air pollution challenges that the city faces, and is taking concrete action to address them.
On air pollution, Zeng reports, "the Beijing municipal government lists curbing fine particle pollution as its top priority for 2012, ahead of housing, health and education...The city vows to slash PM 2.5 pollution by nearly 30 percent by 2020." Beijing is also planning to implement stricter vehicle emission standards this year.
To reduce congestion, the city is renewing driving restrictions tied to license plate numbers and is expanding the practice to government vehicles. Apparently the city is even planning to implement a rush hour congestion charge.
With its population expected to grow by more than 6 million by the end of the decade, much more work will need to be done to ease the pain of living in Beijing.
FULL STORY: China Transportation Briefing: How to Save China’s Capital?
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.