Commuters can expect an easier travel experience in Beijing

The city of Beijing has plans to improve the commuting experience for its people this year, with a more reasonable approach that calls for a more mature rapid transit network, consisting of a combination of subways and buses.

The planned network will cover a wider area and reach more communities than before, with the help of some branch lines and short distance bus routes. And it will save people time in transferring between subway lines or at bus stops, thanks to the addition of underground passages and other facilities, such as elevators and escalators.

The new bus routes will be no more than 20km long, in an attempt to be more reasonable in this planning, and some adjustments to various routes. This includes the addition of mini-bus or short distance bus routes to connect outlying communities with subway and larger bus lines.

The city plans to improve taxi operations and management, with the companies involved being encouraged to guarantee taxi availability during rush hours, and in the more prosperous business districts, as well as at airports and train stations.

There will also be stricter regulations and penalties for any violations, such as the use of illegal cabs, overcharging, refusing to take passengers, to protect passengers and their rights.