Insight: Enhance mobility, curb traffic

Paulo Barbosa

The transportation system is a critical issue for Macau, given the region’s limited size. There is a need to create a convenient public transport system that counters our over-dependence on private vehicles. Valuable steps in that direction, namely the setting up of the Light Rail Train (LRT) system, are being taken. But more can be done in order to preserve good traffic flow and reduce pervasive air pollution.
In the Chinese mainland some cities seem to be aware of the problem they are facing. The neighboring city of Shenzhen was the most recent Chinese city to announce a car purchasing restriction that requires prospective buyers to acquire new car plates by lottery or auction.
Since the scheme began at the beginning of the year, 100,000 new vehicle plates are being allocated annually for the city (including 20,000 electric cars). Half of those plates are distributed by auction, with the other half through a lottery.
Besides that, vehicles with non-Shenzhen plates will be forbidden during rush hours on weekdays if they are not from Hong Kong or Macau. Xinhua news agency cites a municipal government statement indicating that there are more than 3.1 million vehicles in Shenzhen with 4 million expected in 2016. This “will prolong the average evening traffic commute from 55 minutes in 2014 to 92 minutes in 2016.”
Shenzhen became the eighth Chinese city to adopt purchase restrictions to tackle rising congestion and pollution, following Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Guiyang, Shijiazhuang and Hangzhou.
Cities worldwide are adopting similar measures to curb traffic and pollution. For example, in Lisbon, Portugal, municipal authorities introduced a scheme that specially targets older and more pollutant vehicles. Since January 15, cars with a license plate issued before 1996 are prohibited from entering some downtown areas every weekday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The affected districts are called “Low Emission Zones” and two of them have been established. The historical core of the city (or the parts of it that are not reserved for pedestrians already) is only accessible to cars with a license plate issued after 2000. The infractions will be punished with a MOP250 fine and the over-zealous Lisbon Municipal Police will be responsible for the scheme’s enforcement.
In the German capital, Berlin, the rules are stricter and can only be implemented in a prosperous country: only the vehicles that abide by the Euro 4 rule (those made after 2010) are allowed to circulate downtown.
Each city must find its own solutions to create a reasonable and healthy transportation system. The examples I gave show several options: Shenzhen tries to limit the number of new cars by issuing a limited number of licenses, Lisbon tries to get the older cars out of the market by not allowing them in parts of the city. There are also parking solutions that can be implemented in order to limit car traffic but enhance mobility. These types of schemes may not even be harmful for car sellers. If authorities favor car renewal and the economy is strong, they will always have a market.
What seems evident to me is that Macau must do something to address the issue. Official data shows that the region – comprising an area of 29.5 square kilometers and approximately 450 kilometers of road – had 237,503 vehicles in circulation by the end of October 2014. That number is growing by the day and the time we all take to get from one place to another is increasing. The air we breathe near the roads where traffic is heavier has become unbearable, as pedestrians can feel whenever they pass Rua do Campo or Avenida da Praia Grande, only to give two examples. As many experts point out, given its size, Macau could become an example in terms of green transportation. To close our eyes on this issue, ignoring what’s being done in other cities nearby and around the world, is not wise.