Expats more dissatisfied with Shanghai's traffic

Foreigners are more dissatisfied with traffic conditions in Shanghai than Chinese, a recent poll conducted by China Daily and Touchmedia found.

A total of 129,164 people participated in the survey, which was conducted by touch-screen input in taxis. The interviewees were divided into five groups — locals from Shanghai, other Chinese living in Shanghai, other Chinese visiting Shanghai, expats living in Shanghai and expats visiting Shanghai.

Almost half of the expats visiting Shanghai said traffic conditions were "unsatisfactory" or "poor", according to the poll. About 44 percent of the expats living in Shanghai also said it is bad.

In contrast, more than half of locals from Shanghai thought the traffic conditions above average, and 27 percent said they were "excellent". The proportion of Chinese from elsewhere who live in Shanghai and Chinese visitors who chose "dissatisfied" or "poor" was less than 30 percent.

The use of bicycles or walking was chosen by most respondents, whether Chinese or foreign, as the best options to ease traffic congestion, seeming to indicate that air pollution is becoming a major concern for everyone in the city. Other popular options included public bicycle rental services and the use of public transport.

More Chinese thought it important to restrain jaywalking to improve traffic safety, while for expats, a higher proportion thought installing more surveillance facilities on roads, as well as strengthening the accident emergency response system was more important.