New traffic rules a good start but we'll need more

Everyone who lives in Beijing is acutely aware of the traffic situation. The clogging of the roads has been a consistently growing problem, with a minor reprieve granted by the measures enacted around the Olympics. Since then, the significantly increasing number of vehicles within Beijing has caused numerous headaches for commuters and tourists alike.

The capital's traffic woes are well documented worldwide. Many of the more horrendous jams - such as the 120-kilometer tailback on the Beijing-Tibet highway - brought the issue to the attention of the world.

Seen from within Beijing, however, the peak hours of travel are quite simply a nightmare, with even those who stay in the office longer to try to avoid the problems caught up in it when they eventually leave, especially on a Friday.