China to ban smoking on buses

Under a new draft government regulation, smoking and other acts considered to be disturbing will be prohibited in buses and subway trains in Chinese cities.
Passengers will also be banned from drinking alcohol, begging, carrying pets and giving performances of a commercial nature in urban buses and subway trains.
The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council made the draft regulation public to solicit opinions.
The government will retain the right to set fares for urban public transport but it will be required to hold public hearings before setting prices.
The draft regulation states that the price has to be fixed in such a way that public transport would become the favored means of transport for urban residents.
China.org.cn reports that by the end of 2009, there were more than 411,900 buses and 1,011 kilometers of subway lines with 5,479 trains in Chinese cities.