A Brief Comparison on Traffic System Between London and Shanghai

 

Allen Liu, ShanghaiFeb. 16th 2012

Highlights

• Differences in road networks

• Public transportation differences

• Policies on managing traffic demand

• Others interesting

Differences in road networks

• the narrower roads in UK cities with higher density. the wider roads with lower density in Shanghai.

cities Proportion of major road s

Density of road networks

London 12.04% 8 (km/km2)

Shanghai

20.90% 6.7(km/km2)

Merits of the road networks in London

• Easier management of traffic flows;

• Reduction of the signal phase in the road

junctions to minimize the travellers’ delay

and potential risks of traffic accidents;

• Better accessibilities for travellers to their

destinations;

• Passengers are able to cross narrow road

more conveniently and safely.

Public transportation differences

• Essential factors of public transportation

between London and Shanghai

Something can be seen

※More than 95 % Londoners live within 400

metres of one of bus stops and tube

stations . Whereas, only 90% of citizens

are within 500 metres of public transit

stops in downtown Shanghai .

Something can be seen

※ The fares for public transit in London

increase quickly and sometimes out of

service because of private ownership.

※ Off-peak policies are used widely.

※ Buses in Shanghai are less reliable

because they always delay during peak

time.

Policies on managing traffic demand

• Traffic Demand Management(TDM)

• Roles of congestion charges

• Achievements in London and Shanghai

• Further improvements

Importance of TDM

• Switching from private to public transport

• Encouraging the redistribution of the

demand in space and time to balance the

demand and the supply

• No financial or economical feasibilities to

provide continuous additional capacity for

the service

Roles of congestion charges

• One of the most effective and efficient

method on managing traffic demand.

• To reduce vehicles and change

distribution of the demand to improve the

shortage of traffic supply by increasing

travellers’ prices during peak time and at

the places where congestion appears.

Congestion Charging Zone in London

• Implemented since 2003, even expanded

in 2007

Achievements in London

• 20% reduction in traffic volumes (about

20,000 vehicles per day).

• 15% Reduction in CO2 emission.

• Traffic accidents declined 40-70 times per

year.

• Additional money from charging.

Further Improvement?

.※Rational scheme should

charge vehicles based

on the number of their

travelling

※Some important

congested corridors

should be included

within the scheme.

Bedford Road congested for an average of

92 hours a week or more than 13 hours a day

Actions in Shanghai

• The auction of car plate has been held

monthly in order to control the amount of

cars since 1994.Total income in 2010:

Total Income(million RMB)

Subsides for transit

ticket prices

Free tickets during

off-peak for elder people

Investment for

subway

4150 1940 460 1750

Actions in Shanghai

• The policy of Off-

peak free tickets for

elders need to be

expanded.

.

Actions in Shanghai

• Increasing parking fees in city centre,

especially for road parking

Others interesting

• UK’s comprehensive ranges of principle

and actual actions “put people foremost”

should be adopted to Shanghai.

• UK reliance on roundabouts for managing

junctions, but the green wave policy may

be more useful on the major road.

Thank you!