According to Beijing Municipal Traffic Commission, Beijing will ban vehicles with even and odd-numbered license plates on alternate days from July 20 to September 20 to help improve air quality for the Olympic Games. During this period, 45% of total vehicles will be off the road.

Relevant departments will take measures to ensure the life of citizens will not be affected, including adjusting the working hours and business hours of large department stores. Detailed plans will come out in the coming days.

The municipal government is also to ban all motor vehicles that fail to meet the European No.1 standard for exhaust emissions as well as trucks registered outside Beijing without special permits from July 1 to September 20. Emissions are expected to be reduced by 63%.

During the Olympic Games, passenger traffic volume of public cars and trams will be expected to reach 14.8 million, increasing by 2.8 million; subway passenger traffic volume will reach 3.82 million, increasing by 750,000; while volume of taxis will increase to 2.45 million by 570,000.