Beijing is considering raising the height cutoff for free bus rides, because the results of recent survey indicate that better nutrition has resulted in taller children.
A survey conducted by the National Physical Development Office with the General Administration of Sport showed that for 6-year-old boys in Beijing, the average height was 118.3 centimeters in 1995, 118.5cm in 1998 and 121.9cm in 2000, while for girls of the same age group, the average was 117.4cm in 1995, 117.8cm in 1998 and 121.63cm in 2000.
But the current traffic fare exemption in Beijing, adopted in 1993, applies to any child under 110cm.
The adjustment is expected to change the height limit from 110cm to 120cm, officials said.
Many people have started to challenge rationality of the fare exemption standard.
"The 110cm standard is outdated in the light of the children's evolving physical development," said Quan Zhongmin, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Liu Enquan, an official with the Beijing Municipal Transportation Committee, said an investigative study on affairs related to the adjustment of the traffic charge-free standard was done two years ago, on conclusion of which it was decided to seek a change.
It is not known when the decision will be implemented in Beijing. The adjustment this time won't apply to parks, cinemas and theaters, Liu said.
Northeastern Liaoning Province took the lead in adopting 130cm as the cutoff in October 2002, followed by northern Hebei Province in July 2003 and eastern Zhejiang Province last November.
Children under the height of 130cm in Zhengzhou, capital of central Henan Province, have been exempt from bus and park fare since December 2003.