Free rides foster free-for-all
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Day 4: Thursday, November 4
Long, long lines at the bus station. An eye-catching sign reads: "Free rides today."
There's one thing the bus and the subway have in common: People. Lots and lots of them.
Liang Zhonghuan, 28, is waiting at Kangwangbei station with her colleague for the 521 bus home. It's a 10-minute walk. She decides on the free bus.
Bus 74 comes. Her colleague says that will work too. They get on and realize they're on the wrong bus.
"We want to get off immediately, but the driver doesn't seem bothered," Liang says.
"He's like 'Take it easy. It's all good, anyways.'"
They finally get off late and take another bus home. It all takes about an hour.
"Well, I was happy anyway because I didn't have to walk," she says.
Day 5: Friday, November 5
Passenger numbers are not going down. They only go up and up. The local government resorts to texting an urgent notice for residents: "Avoid the overcrowded subway!"
Day 6: Saturday, November 6
Total chaos.
Day 7: Sunday, November 7
The government cancels free rides "due to security concerns." Starting November 8, the public transport resumes being a paid system.
"The public transportation system has seen a rapid growth in passenger numbers since the measure was implemented November 1, reaching 17.54 million per day," a notice on the government's official website reads.
"The subway had 7.78 million passengers every day, double the previous numbers.
"This has resulted not only in safety risks, but has also affected the quality of service and citizens' ability to travel efficiently."
During the Asian Games and Asian Paralympics, staff members, volunteers and ticket holders will still be able to ride for free.
Instead of free rides, the government offers a 150 yuan subsidy to most urban households that have lived in the city more than six months.
Newspapers kindly remind passengers "Don't forget to bring your wallets and transit card."
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