The Future of Personal Transport in China: Summary of a Symposium, January 12, 2001 (2001)

Summary: In August 1999 a delegation from the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) visited The National Academies in Washington to discuss opportunities for collaboration on a study of the future of personal use vehicles in China. Barely motorized at that time, China was confronted with the prospect of a massive increase in demand for auto-mobiles. The question of how to address that demand involves consideration of existing infrastructure, including roads, parking areas, alternative public and personal modes of transport; availability of high quality fuel, and ability to control the pollution and congestion of Chinese cities. This symposium, with expert speakers from China and the United States, illustrates and analyzes the prob-lems and opportunities attached to rapid motorization in China.