Xenophobic restriction cannot dissolve traffic congestion

The traffic administration of Guangzhou city in Guangdong province indicated the provincial capital may follow Beijing's lead and restrict vehicles from other cities from operating during peak hours on the city's roads to relieve the city's traffic flows. But whether this policy works still needs to be tested, says an article of China Business News. Excerpts:

Guangzhou imposed harsh controls on vehicle license plates in June last year. The restriction on vehicles from other cities is one of its efforts to prevent local drivers, who cannot get the plates temporarily, from registering plates in neighboring cities.

Shanghai and Beijing implemented similar restrictions, but the effects are not obvious.

A restriction is a kind of blockade. As center city of the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou benefits from its openness and convenient transportation. If Guangzhou closes its gates to vehicles from other cities, the development of the city will be affected.

The restriction policy is only an administration measure. As non-local vehicles are much fewer in number than local vehicles, they should not take the blame for Guangzhou's traffic jams during peak hours.

The Guangzhou municipal authority should figure out other, better means to solve the issue before enforcing the measure. China should actually not promote an automobile society, given the country's limited environmental capacity, scare resources and huge population. Public transportation is the only way out for the congested cities.