Riverside running track under starter’s orders

Authorites in Jing'an District plan to turn part of Xisuzhou Road along Suzhou Creek into a 300-meter running track next year, so that residents and workers in the area can take a riverside run.

The jogging track, between 1.6 to 2 meters wide, will run from the section between Changping Road and Anyuan Road, the Jing'an District Sports Bureau said yesterday.

If the trial proves popular, more roads and sidewalks around Nanjing Road, Changping Road and Julu Road are expected to get tracks too.

This will help turn these areas into "jogging circles," said Hu Gang, deputy director of office with the bureau.

Hu said research by the bureau found that white-collar workers and residents in the district want more open spaces and prefer outdoor fitness activities, such as jogging.

Authorities are considering traffic restrictions near the track to create better conditions for runners, he said.

Limiting traffic and banning parking near the track are among options.

The bureau also plans to build five gyms inside office buildings in the district.