Ban cars weekly to cut pollution

How can we tackle the atrocious air quality in Hong Kong? Ban certain cars from the roads once a week.

It is hardly an original idea. Cars were routinely kept off the roads in Madrid when I lived there 15 years ago. Given the grim relationship between pollution and car exhaust, what excuse do we have not to execute drastic laws that reduce traffic congestion and improve the air?

Hong Kong boasts around 500,000 licensed vehicles, of which two-thirds are private cars. Yet we are blessed with, arguably, the best-value public transport system in Asia. It is cheap, fast, extensive, accessible, clean and easy to use. We can survive without cars. We will not survive if we pump the atmosphere full of exhaust.

Sure, car owners would be inconvenienced by a ban. Sure, they have paid for their car, tax and insurance. Sure, a ban would be 'undemocratic'. But, as the saying goes, desperate measures are called for in desperate times. Just look out the window: we live in a poisoned city.

What's needed is concentrated pressure on the government by the people to solve this crisis. Of course readers can help by organising their own self-imposed bans. Long-term, though, we need radical change.

Consider this: private cars with licence plates ending in an odd number are banned every other Tuesday and those ending in even numbers every other Thursday. Taxis, public transport and commercial vehicles would not be affected. The aim is to get private cars off the roads a few times every month. Break the ban and you get fined $10,000. No, $50,000. Let's be serious about this. If you find this hard to stomach, go now to Causeway Bay and take a deep breath.

MICHAEL GIBB, North Point