By Wang Duo
Translated by Wang Jing
It is expressed by relevant principal of the Committee of Shanghai Urban and Rural Construction and Transportation on 13th, September that the civilians' opinion will be collected and heard in the coming transportation survey, concerning the current situation and developing orientation of various traffic control policies, such as charging for crowded roads at rush hours and so on. Chinese Version>>
In my opinion, the gesture of giving ear to public opinion like this is very in time. The problem of transportation has always been a big issue concerned by civilians. Among all these issues, the auction of number-plates and the charging for crowded roads at rush hours are of first priority. Recently, the closing price of the auction of number-plates has been showing the tendency of fast rising, which has curbed part of the vehicle consumption to a great extent. The producers, sellers and consumers of behicles are quite discontented with it. Some common people have also put forward many queries about the transparency of the use and destination of the fee of number-plates auction.
Take another example, the issue of charging for crowded roads at rush hours is quite critical for private vehicle owners. Because in their eyes, whether the roads are crowded is related greatly to the state of the roads. Instead, it is rarely related to the number of vehicles directly. Of course, this is the viewpoint of private vehicle owners. People without private vehicles are also not quite satisfied, because they think the developing situation of public transportation is still not satisfied.
So, it is quite necessary to listen to civilians' opinion as for road traffic control policies. Civilians will put forward many intelligent suggestions and plans from the angle of real life. Actually, they themselves are objects of traffic behaviours and most qualified to express their viewpoints about this topic.
However, some of our current policies are not always formulated out of the actual needs and vital interests of civilians. They are often made out by people sitting in the office after beating their heads, making some plans, and giving some ideas. Sometimes, they do things under the banner of "scientific verification" or "inspection on spot", which can hardly be accepted. The result of these practices has weakened the effect of the policy greatly. Once the policy is implemented, defects will be found everywhere, even without a chance to mend the fold after the sheep has been stolen.
What is indeed the aim of the policy of number-plates auction? Is it to restrain vehicle consumption? Is it really good for vehicle control? Is it really helpful for the development of public transport? According to what is the charge of crowded roads at rush hours made? What are the differences among Shanghai, Singapore, and London? Besides, there are things we specially concern about, like where has the money collected gone? ...
These issues should be laid on the table to let us study and inspect and judge what are reasonable and what are unreasonable. The discussion based on reason will be helpful for civilians to understand and support all kinds of control policies. It is much more helpful for control department to enhance the quality of their services. It is only after the formation of the broadest mass foundation and popular support that a policy will be effective. Or, there will be full of complaints.
Now, the number-plates control and charging of Shanghai is in a sensitive stage.The prohibiting of number-plates from other cities has given great strike to the vehicle market. Besides, the charging of crowded roads at rush hours which has not been implemented has been attracting attentions of many people. We should admit that it is very in time and necessary for relevant departments of Shanghai to show their attitude of hoping to give ear to civilians' opinions . I think it will be of no harm to listen more to civilians' voice and viewpoints from different interest groups. We are constructing harmonious society, which needs broad mass participation. It is of special importance as for the formulation of public policy.