Fewer vehicles bring smooth traffic flow in Beijing

Beijing motorists are now restricted to using their vehicles on alternate days of the week. A new license plate-based even-odd traffic regulation kicked in on Sunday to ease congestion and reduce pollution over the next two months.

A normal Sunday morning in Beijing -- but with a difference. Traffic flow is better as there are fewer vehicles on the streets.

Quite a change for a city where taking to the road is a true test of patience. Now the mood is much different.

"No traffic jam at all."

For the next two months, car owners can only drive on alternate days which are determined by whether their license plates end with even or odd numbers. This is expected to remove 45 percent of the city's 3.3 million cars from the streets.

Some take a smooth drive on Sunday, as their plate number ends an even digit.

But others are forced to make alternate plans. And the public transportation is their first choice.

One local resident said "My car has an odd plate number, so I can't drive my car for the day. I decide to travel by bus because it's convenient, and the public transportation of the city is well-developed."

An additional four million people are expected to use public transport and the city is ready for that.