Police slap fine notices on illegally parked cars. Yang Wei / Mirror Evening News

Daytime parking more expensive at 13 shopping areas in the city

More people are considering changing to public transport as daytime parking fees rise today.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, the aboveground parking fees in 13 central areas within the Fourth Ring Road will be increased to a maximum of 10 yuan per hour from April 1, while underground parking will rise to 6 yuan per hour.

"The parking fees in our building have increased fivefold," said a sales manager surnamed Huan, of China Central Place, in the CBD area. "Parking was 2 yuan per hour before the Spring Festival; and then it was hiked to 10 yuan at the end of February. Ten hours a day will total 3, 000 yuan per month; it's too expensive to afford," he said.

"Ever since the rise, I've been parking my car in a parking lot outside the Fourth Ring Road that charges only 2 yuan per hour. I then take a bus to work," he explained. "Some of my colleagues have already switched to the subway."

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According to the Municipal Traffic Department there are five subway lines and 292 bus routes covering the areas involved in the price rise and citizens can find a bus stop every 300 meters on average.

The department would also keep a close watch on the passenger flow and add capacity so as to meet the travel demands, an officer from the Traffic Department told the Beijing News.

An office worker surnamed Du, who works in the SK Building which is also in the CBD area, said: "Our underground parking lot will increase the price from 5 to 6 yuan per hour from Thursday. It is not actually that big a difference, but it definitely has an impact on people's minds."

She already considers taking a bus to work half of the month.

"I do welcome the rises," said Du, "but I don't think it will have much effect as private car procession in Beijing is still growing."

The number of cars in the city was 4.17 million at the end of 2009, according to the traffic management bureau.

"I think the rises are useful but it's too much for car drivers; I would say raising the price of gasoline would be much more effective," said Huan.

"Besides, I'm afraid it'll cause illegal parking while car owners seek somewhere cheaper to park."