New energy buses boost public transportation

More than 80 percent of China's public transport buses are new energy vehicles, the Ministry of Transport said on Tuesday.

There were 682,500 public buses on the country's roads by the end of last year, with 554,400 of them — 81.2 percent — eschewing fossil-fuel engines.

The country's public bus network has expanded to 79,800 routes, with over 20,000 kilometers of dedicated bus lanes. Last year, China's buses provided 41.6 billion passenger trips, according to Geng Jinjun, an official from the ministry.

He said the ministry and related departments have accelerated improvements to regulations, policies and standards in recent years to further the development of urban public transportation.

"Urban public transport is experiencing a new phase of policy opportunities," Geng said, adding that the ministry is drafting policies to promote its development, as well as detailed implementation rules for the renewal of buses and their batteries.

He said it is important to optimize transportation network plans, enhance the integration of various urban transportation modes, and innovate services tailored to local needs, such as public transport to work, schools and hospitals.

The ministry also aims to improve barrier-free services for the elderly.

In Cangzhou, Hebei province, the quality of public transportation, especially public bus services, has improved in recent years, according to Wang Tianyong, deputy director of the provincial transportation bureau.

"The province has continuously optimized the bus route network, updated the facilities and equipment, and improved the quality of travel," he said.

Cangzhou launched a free "medical express bus" to help patients travel to hospital in June last year. The service runs every 30 minutes.

Staff are available on board to help passengers complete medical registration through their mobile phones to save time at the hospital.

To benefit patients living outside Cangzhou, a large parking lot has been set up at the entrance of a freeway in the city. Patients can park their cars there and ride the free bus to the hospital.

Wang said there are now 33,000 urban public buses in Hebei, with about 27,000 being new energy vehicles — around 82 percent of the fleet.

All the public buses in downtown Cangzhou and suburbs within 20 km of the city center are new energy vehicles.