Cars queue in street on No Car Day

时间：2007-09-29 06:41:26

（单词翻译:单击）

Chinanews, Beijing, Sept 29 – On September 22, more than 100 cities in China joined the international No Car Day activity. For Beijing and Shanghai, however, the public campaign made little achievement. In Beijing, the No Car Day turned out to be a car queuing day, the International Finance News reported.

 

The No Car Day happened to mark another public day in Beijing, the Queuing Day which falls on the 22nd day every month when local city residents are encouraged to line up to board a bus. Well, unfortunately, thousands of cars in Beijing joined local citizens by queuing in the streets on that day, too. It might be because the Mid-autumn Festival (or Moon Festival) was coming near and September 22 happened to be a weekend. Whatever the reason, on September 22 many car drivers experienced a terrible traffic jam. According to information recorded by the Beijing municipal traffic bureau, at 19:45 many cars were crawling bumper1 to bumper on the streets and their running speed was as low as 20 kilometers an hour. Usually, when weekend comes, about 40-50 roads in Beijing might witness traffic jams. On that day, however, the number of roads clogged2 by cars reached 80, which nearly doubled the average number.

 

Everybody knows that the street will be a lot better if few people drive cars. Then, why do people still choose to buy cars instead of taking a public bus? Well, it seems that people choose to buy cars because they have to, not because they want to. According to a recent investigation3 jointly4 carried out by eight environmental organizations in Beijing, nearly 80% of the people feel that public bus is often too crowded.

 

If one has to wait on the street whether driving one's own car or taking a public bus, why should one take a bus and be pushed and squeezed by others scrambling5 to board it? It might be a lot better to spend the time sitting in one's own car, at least one will have a seat there and enjoy the cool air and stereo music?

 

It is sensible for people to think this way. If private cars and taxis can only run at a speed of 20 kilometers an hour during the rush hour, then the speed for buses might be even slower than that – they have to stop at various bus stops. Under this circumstance, it appears that only “the idle rich” can afford to take the bus!

 
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1 bumper jssz8     
n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的
参考例句：
  • The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
  • This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。
2 clogged 0927b23da82f60cf3d3f2864c1fbc146     
（使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞
参考例句：
  • The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. 狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。
  • The intake of gasoline was stopped by a clogged fuel line. 汽油的注入由于管道阻塞而停止了。
3 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
4 jointly jp9zvS     
ad.联合地，共同地
参考例句：
  • Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
  • She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。
5 scrambling cfea7454c3a8813b07de2178a1025138     
v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞
参考例句：
  • Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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