Beijing will raise peak-hour parking fees and boost the amount of car space in the suburbs to ease the nagging traffic problems by 2008.

The municipal traffic commission announced the plans on Monday.

The move is expected to encourage more drivers to ride public transit in downtown areas as the transport network in the city will be improved in the next few years.

The plans also include remedial driver education.

The number of cars is forecast to hit 3.5 million when the city hosts the Olympics in 2008, up from the current level of about 2 million.

(CRI.com June 16, 2004)