Since it started operation on October 7, 07, Beijing Metro Line 5 has become the main north-south trafficartery of Beijing, with the number of passengers reaching a highest record of 449,000 per day.

Many people choose to commute or travel by the subway since it is fast and affordable.  Ms. Wang who lives in Tiantongyuan Community deeply appreciates the convenience of the 5th line. Now, her commute to work could be shortened by at least one hour. Before the opening of the 5th line, she had to drive for more than two hours, the traffic jam made her daily commute a nightmare. But now, every morning she drives to the terminal of Tiantongyuan North Station and transfers to the subway to get to the World Trade Center. She said this not only avoids traffic jam, but also saves gas and high parking fees at the office building. To park in the Tiantongyuan North Station the parking fee is only two yuan if private car owner has traveled on Line 5 on the same day. The parking fee can be paid by an all-in-one card (yikatong).

Today, Beijing is making giant strides towards a "subway era". More efficient and environmentally friendly subwaysystem is attracting more and more people to drive less like Ms. Wang and to take subway instead. These new trend of commuting habits will have a crucial impact on public transportation, energy saving, and environmental protection.

地铁5号线让"汽车族"弃车出行

        北京地铁5号线自10月7日开通以来,已形成为纵贯京城南北两端的交通大动脉，它的日客流量最高纪录曾达到44.9万人次。
        由于地铁快捷、准时、经济实惠，大批市民因5号线的出现改变了原有的出行方式。家住天通苑周边的王女士就深深体会到5号线的方便快捷，她现在花在上班路上的时间比原来2个多小时缩短一半还多。
        5号线开通之前王女士开车去国贸上班，一路上堵车堵得心烦。现在她早上把车停在天通苑北站停车场，坐城铁去国贸上班。她说这样既不堵车省了汽油费还省了国贸高额的停车费。天通苑北站的停车费是与交通一卡通捆绑的，停车时车主先刷卡，如果这天车主使用此卡乘坐5号线，那24小时内停车费只需2元。
        今日的北京正阔步迈向一个"地铁时代"，不断健全的轨道交通和环保高效的公交系统，将会把越来越多像王女士这样的"汽车族"弃车出行。这些人的出行方式的转变对首都公共交通的和节能、环保等方面都将产生至关重要的影响。

• traffic [´træfik]   n.交通，运输   (初中英语单词)
• opening [´əupəniŋ]   n.开放；开端 a.开始的   (初中英语单词)
• system [´sistəm]   n.系统，体系，制度   (初中英语单词)
• transportation [,trænspɔ:´teiʃən]   n.运输；运送；运费   (初中英语单词)
• energy [´enədʒi]   n.活力，精力；能力   (初中英语单词)
• community [kə´mju:niti]   n.团体；社区；公众   (高中英语单词)
• convenience [kən´vi:niəns]   n.方便；适当的机会   (高中英语单词)
• efficient [i´fiʃənt]   a.有效的，有能力的   (高中英语单词)
• artery [´ɑ:təri]   n.动脉；干线   (英语四级单词)
• subway [´sʌbwei]   n.地铁；地道   (英语四级单词)
• nightmare [´naitmeə]   n.梦魇；恶梦   (英语四级单词)
• terminal [´tə:minəl]   n.终点(站) a.末端的   (英语四级单词)
• traveled [´trævəld]   a.见面广的；旅客多的   (英语四级单词)
• impact [´impækt]   n.影响，作用；冲击   (英语六级单词)