2025-01-23
27 分钟Discussion keeps the World turning.
This is Roundtable.
You're listening to Roundtable.
I'm Steve Hatherly, joined together with Lai Ming and Yohong Lin.
Downtown traffic congestion not only slows people down on their way to where they're going, but also has a negative impact on air quality as well.
New York City has recently enacted congestion pricing, a strategy other world cities have been using for quite a long time.
What is it and what kind of difference does it make for the cities that use it?
And after that, every year Time magazine puts out a Best Inventions of the Year list.
And this year a couple of E readers have made it to the finals to the top.
And we'll talk about those.
Our podcast listeners can find us at Roundtable China on Apple Podcast.
And please don't forget that we love hearing from you as well.
An email is sufficient, but we want to hear your voice if that's not too much trouble.
A Voice Note is our favorite.
Send those our way with your thoughts on any of the issues that we discuss here on the program.
Roundtable podcast.com that's roundtablepodcastq.com and now, congestion pricing, which imposes a fee on drivers for entering or traveling within designated areas during peak hours, offers several potential benefits, including reduced traffic congestion, improved improved air quality, and increased revenue for public transportation.
However, it also presents drawbacks like potential economic burdens on low income drivers, the possible displacement of businesses, and concerns regarding equity and social justice.
New York, as I mentioned, is the latest city in the world to adopt this practice.
But much to the dismay of its citizens, a poll conducted last year revealed that 63% of registered voters in New York State oppose the charge, including 64% in New York City and 73% in the surrounding suburbs.
Regardless, the plan is now in effect.