Polluted Beijing orders cars off road before Olympics

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Those caught driving on days they shouldn't will be fined 100 yuan(US$14), a pricey penalty even for Beijing.

Despite architecturally adventurous venues and US$40 billion spenton improving infrastructure, China's greatest challenge has beenkeeping the city's air clean for the world's greatest athletesparticipating in the Aug. 8-24 games. Instead of blue skies,Beijing's skyline is normally shrouded with a thick gray haze.

Already, many competitors are choosing to train away from Beijing,and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge hassaid outdoor endurance events lasting more than an hour will bepostponed if air quality if poor.

The world's greatest distance runner, Haile Gebrselassie ofEthiopia, has decided not to run the marathon event because thecity's pollution irritates his breathing.

Some 300,000 heavily polluting vehicles - aging industrial trucks,many of which operate only at night - were banned beginning July 1.

The government has also improved public transportation options forthe estimated 4 million extra people who will be off the roadsbecause of the traffic plan, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The subways may not have been as crowded Monday as originallyexpected because employers have been asked to stagger workschedules, and public institutions will open an hour later thannormal.

The city plans to add up to 3,000 more buses by the time theOlympics start, raising the daily capacity for passengers from 12.5million to 15 million, it said.

Two new subway lines and an airport rail link were opened onSaturday, with the projected number of passengers on the threeroutes expected to reach 1.1 million daily during the Olympics.

Experts say the city cleanup measures could still go wrong becauseunpredictable winds might blow pollution into Beijing, or the lackof wind - common in August - could enable local pollution to buildup.