Olympic games Beijing 2008 cast their shadows before
The following information was gathered by own experience and observation, reports from other individuals, industry contacts and some media reports. I can't take any guarantee that all this is correct and complete.
Checkpoints, where drivers, passengers, vehicles and load are thoroughly inspected, have been set up already from May, along with a ban to transport dangerous goods in and into Beijing. Checkpoints can be found everywhere one might enter or leave Beijing, even in the narrowest of valleys and on the muddiest of roads, what we had experienced on the last weekend of June.
As of today, July 1st, 2008, several traffic restrictions came into force lasting as long as to the end of September. These are:
- All vehicles not fulfilling EURO 3 emission standards (yellow sticker), are banned from BJ roads
- Trucks are limited to operate between 00:00 and 05:00 and must fulfill EURO 3 (90% or more don't). This already let transportation fees rise sky-high
- Approx. 30% of government operated vehicles come off the road
From July 20th to September 20th
- the even / odd numberplate regulation will be applied
Passenger vehicles with even numbers are allowed on the roads on even days and vv within the 6th ring road. Buses (22 PAX +) are excepted
- up to 70% of government operated vehicles will be grounded
Other measures
- Security checks have been set up in BJ subway stations, similar to the ones on airports
- Heavy polluting factories may be forced to close
- power cuts may occur during the Olympic games
