Many Wonderful Places and Just as Many Ways to Get There

By: Libby Carnahan, Sea Grant Agent

As I walked the streets of China,I soaked in the sights-some very different and some resoundingly similar to the United States. Local merchants sweep their storefronts with brooms handmade of twigs; streets are lined with specialized corner stores for fresh produce, clothing, barbers, fruit juice and repairs.

Locals and tourists have varied options for moving around town from designated bicycle lanes on every street (not for the inexperienced!); electric and gas powered scooters; inexpensive, clean subways and taxis; and tree-lined sidewalks with
convenient and safe pedestrian over- and under-passes. With license plates in the city of Shanghai costing anywhere from $6,200 to $9,500 (US) depending upon results of the monthly auction, it is cost-prohibitive for many Shanghainese to own an automobile.

But transportation isn’t the only way the Chinese use cost/rebates to encourage sustainable choices. Check out tomorrow’s post!