Bus, ferry services affected by marathon

Officials yesterday gave details of bus and ferry services facing disruptions during the 2014 Shanghai International Marathon on November 2.

A total of 165 bus routes going through Huangpu, Jiang'an and Xuhui districts will be affected on the day.

These include 25 bus routes — such as the No. 55 and No. 167 services — that pass along the Bund, the event's start line. They will suspend operations from 5:30am until all runners leave the area.

The race begins at 7am and Metro services will not be affected.

Full details of suspended ferry services on the Huangpu River will be announced by police later this month.

Organizers have shifted the date of the annual event from December to November this year in the hope of better air quality.

The city's meteorological and environmental protection departments will provide a text message service to runners with weather and air quality forecasts.

Last year's event took place on December 1, when the city Air Quality Index rose to heavily polluted by 1pm.

According to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, a cold front and wet weather may accompany this year's race.

The 2014 marathon features 8,000 runners in the 42.2 kilometer race; 10,000 in the half marathon; 5,000 in the 10km race, and 12,000 runners in the 5km run. The full and half marathon end at the Shanghai Stadium.