Green for go: 300 or so riders in Huaihai Park about to set off for a 20-kilometer cycling event around Huangpu District yesterday, marking the 18th World Carfree Day.(Wang Rongjiang)
To mark the 18th World Carfree Day, Shanghai government announced yesterday that resolving the "last kilometer disconnect" is among the aims the city is undertaking to make life easier and more convenient for its residents.
Expanding the Metro network and improving bus services and bringing both nearer to people — within 1 kilometer — is the name of the game for the authorities who also want to reduce air pollution.
To encourage people to use different forms of public and green transport — Metro, buses, walking and biking — an orienteering game "Get started, measure happiness" was launched yesterday, with 42 teams of 210 players participating.
"This is my first time to attend an orienteering in Shanghai and I think the idea behind it is great" said 21-year-old student David Janna, who is studying at East China Normal University. "I'm studying and living in here now, and probably will work in Shanghai in future. I like the idea of green transportation."
Janna added he was also a frequent user of Mobike, a bicycle rental program in Shanghai, when traveling out of the campus. Bike sharing was also encouraged during yesterday's orienteering.
By the end of last year, the city's Metro network totaled 617 kilometers, and is expected to be extended by a further 216 kilometers by the end of 2020, according to the city's transport commission.
Shanghai is also optimizing bus routes, particularly by enhancing bus services around Metro stations. There are 197 bus routes to ferry residents between their homes and subway stations. About 70 percent of Metro stations have bus services available within 50 meters, and some 85 percent have bus services within 100 meters.
More bus-only lanes will also be added. According to officials, the average bus running speed on major transportation arteries, Gonghe Xin Road, Hutai Road and Yan'an Road W. has been lifted by more than 10 percent during rush hours thanks to bus-only lanes.
A further 25 kilometers of bus lanes are expected to be added to the city's road network this year. The lane on Jinqiao Road has been completed.
The city's "medium-capacity traffic project" is expected to be put into operation in January.
