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Beijing riders reminded to wait their turn on transport

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-11 21:21

BEIJING -- Nearly 10,000 transport coordinators and volunteers went to 2,000-odd bus and subway stations here on Thursday to bring passengers in line, literally, on the last "Queuing Day" of 2008.

Queuing advocates set up 11 stands at major bus stops, put up banners reading "Civility Lies in Behavior" and other positive thoughts and distributed brochures to passengers.

"Queuing Day" has fallen on the 11th of each month since February of 2007, a move by the Beijing Municipal Government to raise residents' awareness of waiting their turn. The date was picked for its resemblance to two persons standing on a line.

A 59-year-old woman surnamed Zhang told Xinhua that passengers are getting better at queuing. Retirees like Zhang are the main source of coordinators, who work at bus stops during rush hours on work days, giving directions and helping maintain order.

Buses and subways in Beijing are always crowded with some of the city's 16 million residents. It's not uncommon to see passengers battling to get in, especially during rush hours.

Ding Ling, a new university graduate waiting for a bus home, said: "Sometimes [the queuing system] is still not in good order, but better than before."

She added that coordinators did play a part in the improvement. "It is very useful to ask them for directions."

The Beijing government said the city plans to continue queuing days.