第十类 交通

01 What is the vehicle for transportation you like or dislike and why? (cars, buses, subways, trains, airplanes, bicycles)

1.1 汽车

1.1.1 舒适、自由

I feel comfortable when I am driving. When I am in the car, I don't need to worry about weather issues. If it is cold outside, I can turn my heater on. If it is hot, I can roll down my window to enjoy the breeze. I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair. If I am bored, I can blast my hip-pop music as loud as I want. Especially when it comes to road trips, belting out the lyrics to my favorite tune is the best experience. No matter what happens outside, once I am in my car, I am free.

1.1.2 危险

It is dangerous. Driving is the most dangerous thing most people do in a day. If I could avoid it, I would. When I'm in cities with convenient and fast public transit like subways, I don't drive. I can often see someone going 5 MPH on a 65 MPH highway, slamming on their gas pedals, and running into other cars' rear ends. Things get worse when people are driving in some small cities because traffic rules mean nothing to them. If you follow the rules while driving, they think you are stupid.

1.1.3 堵车

I hate driving for one simple reason: traffic jams. I used to get up every day around 5:00 a. m. , just to avoid the morning rush hour, which could easily last for hours. Before that, I naively thought that I could still get to my company on time, even if I left home at 7:00 a. m, because I was extremely confident about my driving skills. But pretty soon I was proven wrong. There was this time that I encountered a serious traffic jam. I was on the eastern third-ring road and I thought I could make it to work just in time. Unfortunately, Beijing was holding a major international event — the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The road was temporarily shut down as a result. So I was stuck on ShuangJing Bridge for like 40 minutes. I was 2 hours late in the end. My boss was really pissed off.

1.2 公共汽车

1.2.1 省钱

Using the bus is an economical way of travelling. The cost varies according to the length of the trip, but on average, it costs around 4 dollars, which is way less than driving a car or taking a cab. The price is even cheaper if you buy a season pass. I don't need to worry about insurance, gas, maintenance, parking fees etc. I used to spend around 25 dollars a week just for gas to get me to work. I also paid 6075 dollars in monthly parking fees as well to park in downtown areas. By taking the bus for several months, I've saved well over 500 dollars.

1.2.2 领略更多风景

I like taking buses. Sometimes on an airplane, I get to see spectacular views of the cities and countryside below. However, much of the flight probably involves staring at the endless sky. Traveling by bus through a new area gives me the unique opportunity to experience luxurious coastlines and charming old towns. I can go for miles and miles across gorgeous, open farmland, or stare at the skyscrapers of whatever city I am passing through. This is no doubt the best way to travel through a new city or a new country.

1.2.3 浪费时间

Sometimes the bus is so slow. It is normally required to be driven under a certain speed. So, travel by bus is way slower than travel by car or even by bike. Plus, I have to wait for the bus, and then I have to wait again, while the bus stops at every stop to let a herd of people out. Then the length of the journey feels 5 times longer than if I drive. One time, one bus did not show up until an hour had passed. It turned out the bus had broken down and had been replacing a flat tire at the last stop. And when I got on for like five minutes, the bus was shut down again because of some engine failure. By the time I got home, it was 10:00 p. m and I was both starving and exhausted.

1.3 地铁

1.3.1 可以干很多事

I think riding on the subway is much better than driving myself. It allows me to relax, read, or nap during the commute instead of feeling road rage. I can do pretty much anything I want on the subway. For example, I can listen to music on my iPhone or take out my laptop and work on some papers while sitting comfortably on a seat. Even better, I could eat breakfast or sleep the entire commute. This is the perfect opportunity for me to catch up on sleep.

1.3.2 快

The subway is fast. Driving in rush hour can be a nightmare in some big cities like Beijing. Taking a subway is the fastest way to travel in a big city. There's no traffic to contend with. Instead of getting stuck in the street in a sea of cars, taking the subway is the best way for me to make sure to stay on schedule or even arrive early at my destination. When you are going to an interview or taking an exam, the last thing you want is to be late.

1.3.3 不舒服

I don't like taking the subway, because it is not comfortable. I have no room to breathe especially during the morning and evening rush. Furthermore, with so many people being stuffed onto the subway, it smells awful. Sometimes it takes forever to get on because there are already too many people on the subway, standing there when the door opens. I once saw a station which was so jam-packed that attendants needed to drag riders out of the subway so that the doors could close. When it is not rush hour, the beggars start to show up. Seeing people beg, ask for money, and sleep on the platforms is so disheartening

1.3.4 不安全

I do not feel the subway is a safe environment for most women. Taking the subway at night can be quite dangerous even for men. Last week, I was harassed on the subway. I reported these instances to authorities like I'm supposed to, but the subway officers didn't do much about it. They ended up giving me some useless tips like,“This is what you should do to avoid harassment” instead of actually trying to bring the pervert to justice.

1.3.5 拥挤

Once there was a breakdown in HUIXINXIJIENANKOU Station, so a crowd of people was accumulating on the platform. Trains were just passing by without stopping. After half an hour, one train finally stopped. When the door opened, because people were getting so impatient, nobody cared about politeness anymore. People started rushing into the train without letting passengers get off first. I literally saw a young girl, who already had her left foot on the platform, being pushed back into the train by the force of the crowd. She was yelling desperately, struggling with both her arms,“Let me out…!” But sadly, she disappeared the a blink of an eye.

1.4 飞机

1.4.1 快

It is the fastest way to get somewhere far away. If I only have a limited number of days to travel, and I truly want to spend quality time at my destination, then flying is still my best choice. If I am flying domestically , I can find a flight that will deliver me to the destination early in the day, allowing me to start my vacation as soon as I arrive. If it is for international travel, flying allows me to visit distant lands, experience exotic cultures, and explore our planet in a shorter time than other types of transportation. A flight from Shanghai to Los Angeles only takes 12 hours. However, it takes a ship 2 weeks to cross the Pacific Ocean at full speed.

1.4.2 旅途有趣

I can have fun during the trip. Modern aircrafts are often equipped with fancy entertainment systems that put a selection of movies, television shows, music, and games right at our fingertips. This can help pass the time more quickly while we are on a flight, and allow me to relax more in the process. I can enjoy great views as well. If I am lucky enough to get a window seat, I am often treated to some great views just outside the window. There is nothing quite like soaring over the countryside, while lakes, rivers, mountains, and other beautiful landscapes pass beneath.

1.4.3 延迟

I hate taking airplanes, because flights always get delayed for different reasons like poor weather conditions, mechanical problems, or human mistakes. People have no choice but wait when delays happen. Things even get worse in some of the big airports. I don't trust their so-called“intelligent” system. I have heard so many times that the airport control system can't take a random screw-up. And then everything will just shut down. I was planning to take a flight back to my hometown during the last spring festival. However, it took me five hours of just sitting and waiting at the airport before I could get aboard. It turned out the control system crashed, and nobody knew how to fix it.

1.4.4 害怕

I don't like to take airplanes. Flights give me lots of anxiety. It's because I'm scared of heights and I really hate falling. I don't like bungee jumps, being near ledges, or even looking down from a tall building. Last year, I took a flight from Denver to North Dakota. There was suddenly a big drop followed by a couple of bumps. It set my heart racing and I thought I was going to die. I was almost screaming and gripping the armrest as hard as I could during the rest of the flight. If I got to choose, I would rather spend more travel time to take a train or drive by myself. I feel safer that way.

1.4.5 花费的钱多

I barely take airplanes because the cost is a big problem. The flight ticket prices go up like a rocket, especially during the holiday seasons. Even if it is not holiday, if you travel to some small cities by airplane, the price is still very high. There is only one tiny airport in my hometown where only small planes can land . The price of just one single trip ticket is insane. Sometimes it is around 4,000 yuan for a 2-hour-flight from Beijing to my hometown. I can use that money to take 5 round trips by train at the same distance.

1.5 火车

更舒服

The seats on trains are more comfortable than airplanes', and they also offer more leg room. So even though many train rides are longer than an average plane ride, I don't have to be forced to sit there twisted into a pretzel. I can walk around, stroll to the café car, have a cup of real coffee and drink it at a real table. And the food is much better than the microwaved meals on a plane. There are real chefs that can cook delicious and healthy food on a train. If you're traveling in a sleeper car, the folding beds are spacious and comfortable enough. And I find that the sound of the wheels can put me to sleep very fast.

1.6 自行车

1.6.1 锻炼身体

Riding bikes helps me to keep fit and brings fewer injuries. When I am cycling, it works my muscles from my ankles all the way up to my lower back. It is an efficient workout, as cycling gets my legs moving and my heart pumping without pounding my joints. It is far lower impact and engages the muscles in the legs without much force coming down on the knees as running. So as long as I keep my legs pumping on my bike, it ends up being a smoother, lower-risk form of exercise than running.

1.6.2 保护环境

It is a great form of a green transportation. As we all know, cars consume too much gas and create much more carbon dioxide emissions, but riding a bike doesn't require fuel or batteries. It is indeed a pollution-free mode of transport. According to some recent research, cycling 10 km to work would save 1, 500 kg of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Plus, bicycles reduce the need for clearing land for parking lots. In just one car parking space, 20 bikes can fit easily. So, if more people ride b-ikes, it means fewer cars on the road, which will lead to less clearing of beautiful land for parking lots.

1.6.3 自由

I love riding bikes a lot, because I can have complete freedom. The traffic in Beijing is like a nightmare. I am faster on my bike than most cars during rush hour. I can stop whenever I want. I can slow down and nobody honks. I can explore new areas and revisit familiar places. I have been riding bikes since I was 6 and I am familiar with all the routes from my house to the school. Who doesn't like site-seeing and having people wave at you as you pass by on your daily route?

1.6.4 方便（共享单车）

Bike sharing services like Mobike or OFO are going viral now. When you use the service, you don't even have to own a bike. All you need to do is scan a QR code, unlock a nearby bike, and ride it for however long you want at incredibly low prices. When you get to your destination, you can simply park and lock it. You are free to go and the sharing system will take care of the rest from there. Instead of worrying about where to park your own bike or about the bike thieves, the bike sharing service is extremely convenient.

1.6.5 路况差

I don't like to ride a bike anymore. Beijing is not as bike friendly a city as it used to be. There is not even a bike lane in most areas, So, bikes have to use the same road as cars passing by. It is way too dangerous. My commute comprises roads with parked cars lining the sides, drivers passing way too close and shouting abuse when I take up the middle lane. Once, I almost got hit by a speeding car when I was riding my bike to school. I have quit cycling since then.

1.6.6 会被偷

There are too many bike thieves. Everybody has their bikes stolen once or twice. These thieves really have skills. It doesn't matter at all whether I use the biggest lock or lock it to a rack. They will leave me a wheel if they have mercy. My friend used to have a very fancy bicycle called Brompton. He treated it like a diamond, took it with him all the time. Last week, he told me he lost it while he was hopping off and asking directions for just a few seconds. Since then, he never rides bikes anymore.

02 What are some ways to solve traffic problems?

2.1 控制汽车的数量

The number of cars in big cities like Beijing has grown quickly as urbanization and modernization progress. This has caused severe congestion in some downtown areas, especially at rush hour. If we don't limit the number of cars now, the congestion will only get worse.

Cars from provinces other than Beijing will be banned inside the 5 th Ring Road on work days during the rush hours, from 7 to 9 a. m. and 5 to 8 p. m. The Chinese government recently launched an odd-even license plate policy in Beijing. At major events or in severe weather conditions, personal vehicles will only be allowed on the road during alternating days.

2.2 建造更好的公共交通系统

Public transit is a powerful way to reduce traffic congestion. Without public transit, car drivers would have millions more hours of delays each year. We should create more reserved bus lanes that let more buses move more efficiently. Also, add more bus stations to shorten the time people have to wait, because some people prefer sitting in their cars suffering traffic jams to standing at a bus stop to wait for a bus. On top of that, experts should come up with more efficient bus routes to cover more area.

2.3 鼓励大家骑自行车出行

We should make more space for cycling. Mixing with traffic puts people off cycling. So, cycle lanes and tracks should be wide enough and separate from traffic. Also, a better job should be done of separating cycle lanes from pedestrians. Shared-use pavement alongside roads benefits nobody. Still, we need to build more places to park our bikes. Good-quality cycle parking is essential for the start and end of a journey. This means providing secure stands near the entrance to buildings and on-street.

We should encourage more people to use bike sharing services like Mobike or OFO.When you use the service,you don't even have to own a bike. All you need to do is scan a QR code, unlock a nearby bike, and ride it for however long you want at incredibly low prices. When you get to your destination, you can simply park and lock it. You are free to go and the sharing system will take care of the rest from there. Instead of worrying about where to park your own bike or about the bike thieves, the bike sharing service is extremely convenient.

2.4 增加违反交通的处罚

The reason that some people don't follow the traffic rules is simple: they don't care about paying fines. That's why some people drive at 40mph on a 60mph road while someone else is doing 80mph passing by. How crazy is that? And that happens every single day in Beijing. I have seen people parking places where they shouldn't all the time. If we increase the penalty for traffic violations, people will realize they have to sacrifice way more to take risks. And that will ensure that more people follow the rules, which will solve traffic problems.