The day before yesterday was the first working day after the Mid-Autumn Festival and also happened to fall on a weekend when traffic restrictions were not in place. Forecasts predicted it would be a day of severe congestion. However, as citizens actively responded to the Car-Free Day initiative, the expected heavy traffic was alleviated. The overall urban road network performed better than anticipated, with an average traffic index of 6.2, which was two points lower than the predicted 8.2.
Government offices across the city had already issued notices before the Mid-Autumn Festival break, encouraging staff to refrain from driving to work on the first working day after the holiday and to opt for green travel. Official vehicles were largely kept off the roads on Car-Free Day. Some organizations and companies even temporarily canceled meetings. “In support of Car-Free Day, the meeting has been canceled, so no one needs to come to the office,” Ms. Jia posted on her social media yesterday, sharing a message from her leader. She explained, “Our working hours are quite flexible, and we don’t have fixed office attendance. Canceling one meeting on a day when heavy congestion was expected reduced the number of cars on the road by at least ten, which is also a way of supporting Car-Free Day in action.” Some citizens also responded positively to the call by deliberately not driving and instead choosing green modes of transport such as the subway, buses, or bicycles.
Forecasts had predicted that the peak traffic index yesterday would exceed 9.0. However, during the morning rush hour, the peak only reached 8.2, and the evening rush hour peak dropped to 7.3 before subsiding. The average traffic index during the morning rush hour was 6.6, significantly better than last Monday’s 7.9; the evening rush hour average was 5.8, also notably better than last Monday’s 7.2.
Data shows that the road conditions during this year’s Car-Free Day morning rush hour were better than in previous years. According to data from the Beijing Transportation Development Research Center, on Car-Free Day in 2011, around 7:15 a.m., the road congestion index across the entire network was 3.5. Yesterday at 7:15 a.m., the congestion index was 2.8, with vehicles able to maintain an average speed of 34.9 km/h. The congestion index between the Third Ring Road and the Second Ring Road was 3.0, and inside the Second Ring Road, it was only 4.0.
At 7:30 a.m., as roads around schools entered their most congested period, the morning rush hour truly began across the city. Areas such as Zhongguancun Bridge on the North Fourth Ring Road experienced particularly noticeable congestion, directly affecting the capacity of main road exits. At this time, the road network congestion index reached 4.5, showing the initial impact of the morning rush hour. From then on, red sections indicating congestion began to rapidly increase on the large screen at the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau Command Center. Traffic volumes surged at locations such as the North Shatan area of the Beijing–Tibet Expressway, the Wenyu Bridge to Wuyuan Bridge section of the Airport Expressway, Caihuying South Road, and Lianhuachi East Road. The southern section of the Second Ring Road near Beijing South Railway Station was also extremely congested.
Around 8 a.m., the traffic congestion index peaked at 8.2. Although this was several times higher than the 1.3 index of the day before yesterday, the road conditions were still slightly better compared to a regular weekday morning in September and also better than what traffic authorities had previously forecast. In the past three working days last week, the peak congestion index during the morning rush hour in the city ranged between 8.3 and 8.6.
Afterward, the congestion index began to decline. By around 8:30 a.m., it had dropped to a moderate congestion level; by 9:30 a.m., the entire road network had returned to mostly smooth conditions, earlier than the usual recovery time for morning rush hour.
The improvement during the evening rush hour was even more noticeable. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, traffic volume had begun to surge sharply around 3 p.m., with the congestion index peak even climbing to 9.2. Yesterday during the evening rush hour, traffic volume only began to show a significant increase after 5 p.m. By around 6:30 p.m., the evening rush hour congestion index peaked but was only 7.3. After that, the congestion index began to decline slowly. By 7 p.m., it had dropped to a moderate congestion level, and by around 7:30 p.m., the index had fallen to 3.9, with the entire road network returning to mostly smooth conditions.
Over 280 Government Vehicles Taken Off the Road
The municipal government took over 280 official vehicles off the road in response to Car-Free Day. At the same time, staff from the Municipal Transportation Commission and other departments also joined the ranks of green travelers.
During the morning rush hour, the boom barriers at the parking lot of the Municipal Transportation Commission were unusually “quiet,” barely moving at all. Near 8:45 a.m., a security guard at the entrance said, “Most people are just walking to work. I haven’t seen anyone drive here yet. The office building isn’t too far from the bus stop or the subway station, and it’s quite convenient to walk from there.”
At 8:50 a.m., Chen Zhihong, deputy director of the Beijing Traffic Operation Coordination and Command Center, walked to his office. He took Bus 300 from Jimenqiao and arrived at his workplace in just over 50 minutes. “It takes about the same time as driving,” he said. In the underground parking garage, the usual scene of “no available spots” was gone, with only a few vehicles scattered here and there.
Early yesterday morning, municipal government staff placed “non-use permits” on the front windshields of official vehicles one by one. This simple permit was made on A4 paper and printed with the words “Advocating Green Travel – Restricted Vehicle.” This marks the seventh consecutive year the Beijing municipal government has taken official vehicles off the road on Car-Free Day. A head of the municipal government vehicle management office explained that apart from essential and emergency vehicles, over 280 official vehicles were sealed on Car-Free Day to reduce emissions, alleviate urban road congestion, and set an example for green and civilized travel. (Reporter Liu Mian)
Yesterday, government agencies across all districts and counties in the city took the lead by not driving and taking official vehicles off the road, using practical actions to encourage more citizens to “drive one less day.”
At 8:50 a.m. yesterday, in the compounds of the Dongcheng District Committee and District Government located in Qianliang Hutong and Yuqun Hutong along Dongsi Beidajie in Dongcheng District, the usual flow of vehicles entering one after another was replaced by groups of pedestrians. Up until 9 a.m., not a single car had entered either compound. In support of Car-Free Day, all staff within the Dongcheng District government had previously received notices advocating for the suspension of official vehicles and private cars belonging to staff in party and government agencies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises across the district on the 22nd.
On that day, members of the leadership team of the Dongcheng District Committee and District Government led by example by using green modes of travel to get to work. Public transportation options such as the subway, buses, and shared public bikes became their top choices. By 6 p.m., all 106 administrative and public institutions in the area had completely suspended the use of their official vehicles for the day, and 3,590 privately owned vehicles used by staff also responded to the call by not being used at all.
“From midnight on September 22 to 24:00, all official vehicles (except law enforcement vehicles) will be suspended for the day; staff are not to drive private vehicles,” staff of various district-level agencies in Xicheng District also received a notice about “suspension on Car-Free Day” shortly before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yesterday morning, over 8,000 Party members and cadres from the district’s party and government agencies and affiliated Party organizations took the lead in choosing to commute to work via the subway, buses, or bicycles.
“Normally, to avoid traffic jams when driving, I have to leave home one or two hours early. But commuting via public transportation actually saves a lot of time. Let’s all put the idea of Car-Free Day into practice by driving one less day and maintaining the habit of green travel,” said Le Changgen, a cadre from the District-level Agencies Working Committee who lives in Qinghe, Changping.
Yesterday, all official vehicles of the Chaoyang District Party and government agencies (except law enforcement vehicles) were suspended for the day. The suspension applied to roads within the Fifth Ring Road, from midnight to 24:00. At the same time, the Chaoyang District government called on social organizations, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises to also reduce the use of official vehicles for one day.
Yesterday, staff from party and government agencies in other districts and counties across the city also chose to travel by public transport, walking, or cycling, driving one less day to help reduce air pollution.
Cyclists Lead by Example
Green Travel
On Car-Free Day, the Communist Youth League Municipal Committee launched the “3510 in Action – Beijing Cyclists’ Green Cycling Mobilization Campaign,” encouraging citizens to choose green modes of travel.
At 7:30 a.m., a vibrant group of cyclists appeared at the east square of the World Trade Center Tianjie. These riders wore blue-and-white or red-and-white cycling outfits, sported dynamic helmets, and cool cycling glasses, each on a stylish bike. “Let’s go!” With that command, they rode two abreast, entering Chang’an Avenue via Jintong West Road before finally arriving at Jiande Gate. Along the way, the large and fashionable group caught the attention of many commuters.
The ages of the cyclists ranged from 20 to 60, with many being corporate employees and executives. Wu Kai, a 43-year-old cyclist and logistics worker at a hospital, has had a private car for many years. But for the past three years, he has consistently ridden his bicycle to and from work. “At first, it was because of traffic jams. A 10-minute bike ride to work took 30 minutes by car,” he told reporters. “Gradually, I realized that cycling contributes to environmental protection, and I really miss the blue skies and white clouds from my childhood.” After cycling for a while, Wu Kai found that this commuting method not only helped him lose weight but also improved long-standing issues like fatty liver and high blood pressure.
Since 2010, the Communist Youth League Municipal Committee has advocated the “3510” concept, promoting among young people the idea of “walking for 3 kilometers, cycling for 5 kilometers, taking public transport for 10 kilometers, and driving green for longer distances.” Yesterday, many cyclists also took action through cycling forums such as Dongfanghong Sports Network and Fengyun Bicycle, spontaneously organizing green cycling activities in different areas and routes. Some cyclists agreed to start from Deshengmen on the North Second Ring Road and cycle to Jianguomen; others planned to start from Guangqumen Bridge and cycle to Guomao Bridge; some cycled from Yuquanying Bridge on the South Third Ring Road to the area near Beijing West Railway Station.
In addition, the Beijing Volunteer Federation also used websites, Weibo, text messages, and other channels to encourage 2.05 million registered volunteers to choose walking, bicycles, or public transport for their commutes.
Related News
There were fewer vehicles, and air pollution was only slight.
Yesterday, the city was under the influence of the rear part of a high-pressure system, resulting in relatively unfavorable atmospheric dispersion conditions. Airflow was poor across most areas. Such meteorological conditions can easily lead to severe air pollution. Vehicle exhaust is a major source of air pollution, with approximately 22% of PM2.5 coming from car emissions. However, as yesterday was Car-Free Day, the number of vehicles on the road significantly decreased. As a result, during the daytime period from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the overall air quality across the city remained at a Level 3, or light pollution level.
According to the forecast from the municipal meteorological bureau the previous day, the pressure field controlling Beijing weakened during the daytime, leading to poor airflow across most areas. The air pollution meteorological condition level was rated as 3, meaning the meteorological conditions had no significant impact on the dispersion of pollutants in the air. Meanwhile, the forecast from the Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center also indicated that PM2.5 was the primary pollutant across the city yesterday daytime. Except for the southeastern part, which was at a moderate pollution level, other areas experienced light pollution.
At 8:00 AM yesterday, reporters logged into the real-time air quality monitoring platform and observed that the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city showed a “yellow face,” indicating a Level 2, or good, air quality level. Given that it was Car-Free Day, reporters specifically monitored five traffic-related monitoring stations. At that time, the air quality at these five locations—East Changan Avenue near Qianmen, Inside Yongdingmennei Street, North Xizhimen Street, West South Third Ring Road, and North Dongsihuan Road—all remained at a Level 2, good level. The real-time concentration of PM2.5 was highest at 75 micrograms per cubic meter and lowest at 62 micrograms per cubic meter. By around 12:00 PM, among the city’s 35 monitoring stations, the AQI at two stations—Huairou Town and Miyun Town—dropped to a Level 3, or light pollution level. By 6:00 PM, two more stations, Shunyi New Town and North Dongsihuan Road, also reached the light pollution level.
A duty officer at the Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center explained to reporters that the quality of the air depends on the meteorological conditions of the day, including wind direction, wind speed, and the pressure field. Yesterday, a high-pressure system affected the southwestern part of the city, bringing prevailing southwesterly winds. Pollutants were transported from the southwest to the northeast, which is why the air quality in the southwestern part of the city was better, while the northeastern part was worse. However, the overall trend was a gradual increase, which also explains why the two stations in Miyun Town and Huairou Town were the first to drop to the light pollution level. The officer further explained that the AQI shown on the real-time monitoring platform is a rolling value over the past 24 hours. Therefore, the “yellow face” shown in the morning did not represent the actual conditions during the daytime yesterday. In reality, between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM yesterday, the air quality across the city was at a light pollution level, with AQI values at the 35 monitoring stations ranging between 48 and 142.
Lessons from Elsewhere
New York Tackles Congestion with Targeted Measures
Anyone who has driven in New York knows that it is the least “free” city in the United States. The streets are filled with signs for speed limits, restricted access, no parking, or limited parking. Moreover, the police implement various temporary traffic restrictions based on different situations.
New York is the largest city in the United States, yet its traffic congestion is better than that of major cities like the capital Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It is precisely because of these various restrictions that traffic in New York remains largely smooth.
New Yorkers do not take pride in owning private cars. There are over 200 million vehicles in the United States, with a car ownership rate of about 84%. In contrast, New York is the only city in the U.S. where more than half of the households do not own a car. In Manhattan, over 75% of households do not have a car. The New York City government actively promotes cycling to work, and many people consider cycling green, environmentally friendly, and something to be proud of. The city’s per capita gasoline consumption is only equivalent to the national average in the 1920s.
The ridership of New York’s public transportation system is four times that of Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles combined. The mayor of New York and financial giants from Wall Street often take the subway to work. Celebrities such as Meryl Streep, Beyoncé, and Madonna also frequently use the New York subway because it is the most convenient and reliable urban transportation option.
Vigorously developing public transportation is a long-term policy of New York City. The New York subway is one of the largest and oldest subway systems in the world. Established in 1869, after more than a century of development, it has gradually evolved into a massive system with a total length of 1,355 kilometers, 24 subway lines, and 468 stations. These lines, together with surface buses, form a comprehensive public transportation network covering the entire city. The city has designated bus lanes to ensure the unimpeded operation of buses.
Manhattan is the busiest and most congested area in New York. Most intersections entering Manhattan charge fees, with lower fees for carpooling (two people sharing one car) compared to single occupancy. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officially promotes the “CARPOOL” (carpooling) initiative. Those who participate in carpooling can register on the Port Authority’s website, and the authority helps match suitable carpool partners. There are also several non-profit community-organized carpooling websites in New York that help passengers register and find suitable vehicles. There are nearly 300 carpooling pickup points in the areas surrounding New York, where passengers usually arrange pickup locations and share costs among themselves.
The New York City Department of Transportation has installed monitors on roads prone to congestion and frequently dispatches personnel to observe the situation on-site. They collaborate with local communities to understand the causes of congestion and implement targeted road modifications or route changes for vehicles—for example, converting two-way lanes into one-way lanes, prohibiting turns, banning U-turns, setting speed limits, and restricting parking.
In addition to regular traffic management measures, authorities take targeted special restrictive measures in exceptional circumstances to ensure road smoothness. Manhattan is home to the United Nations headquarters. During the annual UN General Assembly, when heads of state and government leaders from over 200 countries gather in New York, parts of three major avenues near the assembly are closed to vehicular traffic. On every 9/11 Memorial Day and during major events like the World Economic Forum, certain areas or lanes in Manhattan are also closed or restricted.
Traffic congestion is a common challenge faced by all major cities worldwide, each with its unique geographical environment and management methods. New York City’s experience in managing traffic congestion shows that by developing public transportation, reducing the number of vehicles on the road, and implementing practical, targeted traffic mitigation measures based on research, it is possible to solve these challenges.