Shanghai subway network a good example

Shanghai subway network a good example

As one of Jakarta's sister cities, Shanghai, China -- with a
total population of 13 million and an area of 6,341 square
kilometers -- has similar problems. In a recent comparative study
organized by the City Council, The Jakarta Post's Damar Harsanto
was invited to visit Shanghai to learn how that city's officials
deal with the problems. This is the first of three articles.

While Jakarta is still focusing on the development of another
busway line and later a monorail line to deal with its chronic
traffic, its sister city Shanghai has been able to manage its
potential transportation problems.

Shanghai began operating its subway network -- as part of its
mass rapid transit (MRT) system -- in 1995 to cater its
population of 13 million.

Today, Shanghai has 36 subway lines connecting 48 stations
citywide covering a distance of 65 kilometers. Another new line
is under construction and is slated to be operational by the end
of this year.

According to published reports, the Shanghai administration
has promised to further expand the subway by 11 lines covering
400 kilometers by 2010.

To encourage its residents to use the subway, the Shanghai
administration has also widened sidewalks for pedestrians and
banned motorcycles and bicycles from major thoroughfares in
downtown areas.

Those efforts have apparently been welcomed by the people as
many now use the bustling subway system. They have an efficient
vending machine ticketing system and most passengers spend less
than five minutes in line, then catch the next of many passing
trains and within a few more minutes are at their destination.

Compared to the subway system in relatively smaller cities
like Singapore and Taipei, the one in Shanghai is very crowded,
especially during peak hours. Nevertheless, it is less crowded
than Jakarta's electric commuter trains and, of course, no
passengers climbed atop the cars for a free ride.

The public's positive response to the subway was also due to
its integrated system, which links other modes of transportation
such as buses and taxis.

An expatriate working for a foreign company in Shanghai,
Florence Lee, was very pleased with the convenient prepaid
ticketing system, in which monthly passes can be used for the
subway, buses and even taxis.

Lee said she only needed to swipe the debit card over the
magnetic reading device to open the turnstiles in the subway
station. The value on the card is automatically updated, she
said.

"In that sense, Shanghai's transportation system is the most
well-developed compared to other cities that I have visited, like
Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. In those two cities, passengers are
required to have different tickets for different public
transportation means," she told the Post.

In addition to the subway, Shanghai also has river
transportation. Several boat taxis operate along the Huangpu
River which divides the city into two: Pudong in the east and
Puxi in the west.

However, the river transportation was initially established to
cater to tourists, and not necessarily to tackle the bigger
transportation problems. Boat taxi tickets can be from between
US$12 and $15 per person.

Shanghai also has a high-tech Magnetic Levitation Vehicle
(Maglev) speed train.

The train, which can top out at 430 kilometers per hour -- is
still quite costly for an average commuter, and at present only
travels runs along a 31-kilometer track between Shanghai's Long
Yang station and Pudong International Airport.

The Maglev train has not, however, received a warm welcome
from the residents because the cutting-edge technology means each
ticket is priced at 40 Chinese yuan (US$4.8). A price that many
Shanghai residents consider too high.

Local media reported that the construction of the Maglev train
was fueled by a political rivalry between China and Taiwan,
rather than concern for transportation issues. The media also has
criticized the new train, because the schedule does not coincide
very well with airline schedules at the airport.

Despite its weaknesses, Jakarta can learn some things from
Shanghai. Its administration has a strong will and consistent
policies, which put public interest first and they see that as
the key to tackling transportation woes.

I-Box
Between Shanghai and Jakarta in transportation

Shanghai
Population: 13 million
Area : 6,341 square kilometers
River : Huangpu River
Means of transportation:

Maglev trains, subways, buses, taxis, cars, boats,

motorcycles, bicycles
Number of Vehicles:

600,000 cars, 789,000 motorcycles, 40,000 taxis,

3,000 buses, nine million bicycles

Jakarta
Population : 8.6 million (Greater Jakarta: 18.6 million)
Area : 661 square kilometers
River : 13 rivers
Means of Transportation:

Train, buses, taxis, cars, motorcycles, bicycles,

bajaj (three-wheeled motorized taxi)
Number of Vehicles:

1.3 million passenger cars, 403,100 cargo vehicles,

2,000 buses, 2.6 million motorcycles, 23,000 taxis