September Forecast: Nine Horrible Days of Traffic

September means the arrival of autumn, back to school, shopping mall promotions, and of course, moon cakes. It also means some of the worst traffic of the year, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.

The people who brought you taxi reform earlier this year released their September action plan Tuesday, highlighting what they anticipate as nine of the worst traffic days of the year.

The worst rush hours are expected on:

September 2 (morning, first day of school)
September 10 (Evening, teacher’s Day)
September 16 (morning and evening, Monday)
September 17 (evening, pre Mid-Autumn Festival)
September 18 (evening, pre Mid-Autumn Festival)
September 22 (morning and evening, no limit on vehicles)
September 27 (evening, pre-October Holiday)
September 29 (morning and evening, no limit on vehicles, pre-holiday)
September 30 (evening, pre-holiday)

Although Beijing traffic authorities have announced a series of measures to ease traffic, like suggesting that State-owned enterprises organize fewer meetings during the month, it does not hurt to have a plan B – and B in this case stands for bicycle. For more on that, read the September issue of the Beijinger, now available online. Staying underground in the Beijng Metro may also help avoid congestion on the streets.

If that doesn’t work, stretch out your fingers and start tapping away at one of these now-legal taxi-booking apps.

Photo: Salon.com