Expo bus intervals may be extended

Traffic authorities are considering prolonging World Expo bus intervals in order to carry more passengers on each coach and avoid wasting resources.

"The ground public transport system, especially the bus, has been underused," said Sun Jianping, director of the communications, transport and port administration bureau.

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Sun said traffic has been running "smoothly" since the Expo opened on May 1 as authorities were "well prepared."

Yet, he remained cautious, saying that bigger challenges are ahead as visitor turnout has not reached its peak."

Sun said the 42 Expo bus lines had transported about 313,600 people from May 1 to May 9. That number accounted for about 10 percent of the volume, 3.14 million, carried by public transport during the period.

Authorities said 16 direct routes, which connect city transport hubs to the Expo site, saw a daily passenger volume of no more than 20 percent of capacity.

The 16 routes carried 1,586 people on average a day.

Passengers suggested Expo bus routes add more stops. Some only have one or two stops.

Meanwhile, the Metro system has been the main mode of public transport for Expo visitors, Sun said.

Five stations near Expo entrances handled 1.13 million people from May 1 to May 9, or 36 percent of total turnout.

Meanwhile, officials also plan to open the 7-square-kilometer restricted area around the site to non-Expo taxis earlier to ease traffic at night when visitors leave the Expo site.

Only 4,000 Expo licensed cabs are allowed to enter the area at present to pick up passengers during the day. Non-Expo taxis can enter the restricted area only after 9pm.

Taxis handled 18.41 percent, or 578,600 visitors, of visitors going to the Expo. Authorities expected that taxis would only transport 5 percent.