A traffic survey conducted by a street navigation company on Tuesday listed Beijing as the top Chinese city with the worst traffic jam. On August 20, city officials started an odd-even traffic scheme effectively reducing the number of vehicles on the streets by at least 50 percent.

Global Times reported that AutoNavi Holdings (AMAP) has noted that the city's West Second Ring Road has experienced almost eight hours of traffic daily from April to June of this year. Gongti Beilu, which is situated near the city's night life, has also experienced heavy traffic in the evenings.

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Getting stuck in traffic also has an economic consequence for Beijing residents. An average city commuter can expect to shell out a thousand yuan or more than $150 monthly due to being stuck in traffic.

Beijing will be the site of two major events in the coming weeks, an international athletic competition and a parade commemorating the second world war. In order to ease the traffic condition during those times, city officials started an odd-even scheme that will last until September 3.

Under this scheme, certain cars will only be allowed on the road on certain days depending on the last number of their vehicle registration plate.

This is not the first time that Beijing has implemented such scheme. Seven years ago, the same traffic ban was implemented. However, many city residents simply bought additional cars in order to circumvent the ban and resulted in more traffic jams, according to Dongan University professor Gu Dasong. 

Meanwhile, Shanghai has reduced its traffic problem by preventing entry to vehicles coming from outside the city if they are covered by the traffic ban. The easing of traffic in Shanghai made it possible for the city to drop from the top three to the number eight spot. Gu, however, said that such measures are merely temporary. He instead urged Shanghai officials to concentrate in increasing the number of available public transport for the city's riding population.

Gu added that banning outside vehicles covered by the odd-even from entering Beijing is not an option because it will hamper the city's economic development plan with its neighboring cities.

Online car rental services have also been reported as a major contributor in the congestion of the capital city's roads.

TagsBeijing Traffic Management Bureau, Beijing traffic jam, Beijing car ban, Beijing odd-even car ban, Gu DAsong, Shanghai traffic scheme, Car ban, West Second Ring Road, Beijing road