Transportation system at games efficient and easy
Think efficient. The Chinese have a way of making things look easy.
This isn’t standing around losing years off your life while waiting for a taxi late at night in Manhattan. This is a transportation system that for the Olympics has been revamped to a flawless level.
Officials changed license plates of local citizens, introducing an even-odd system — this many people can drive on one day, this many the next, and so on — that has reduced traffic jams by 79 percent and accidents by 47 percent. Pollution is also down (translation: You can walk a block and not fear collapsing) because of fewer cars on the road.
"The local citizens are cooperative with the government," said one official.
Just wondering: Do they have a choice?
Then there are the red media buses. They are lined up at attention like all of the policemen here. There are 900 of the buses and they run on 63 routes, connecting to more than 30 competition venues, 42 media hotels and two media villages.
Each driver comes with these credentials: He or she stood out on written and road tests, interviewed well, has at least five years experience and "is around 40 years old."
In other words, Chinese gymnasts have at least 30 years before being eligible.
— ED GRANEY
