Chongqing- On July 21, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality released its 2024 Annual Report on Transportation Development in Central Urban Areas. The data shows a clear trend: urban mobility in Chongqing is becoming increasingly green and low-carbon.

Zhigang Avenue in Jiulongpo District, Chongqing. (Photo/Zhou Bangjing)

According to the report, the number and usage of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the central urban area have risen sharply. As of 2024, Chongqing's central districts had 2.311 million registered vehicles, an increase of 5.3% from the previous year. Among them, NEVs accounted for 393,000 units, registering a year-on-year increase of 43.4%.

"Compared with fuel vehicle owners, NEV owners tend to drive more frequently," said Zhai Changxu, deputy director of the Chongqing Transportation Planning Institute. He noted that big data analysis showed NEVs averaged 3.1 trips per day, with an 80% activation rate. During peak traffic hours, NEVs made up 32% of all vehicles on the road, up nine percentage points from the previous year.

To address parking shortages, the city has expanded its parking infrastructure. In 2024, central Chongqing offered approximately 3.66 million parking spots, an increase of 178,000 compared to 2023. The city also tackled parking challenges in 43 communities, added 129 micro parking lots with 12,000 new spaces, and activated 53,000 time-shared parking spots.

Public transportation remains the preferred choice for residents. In 2024, the share for public transport reached 55.6%, a 0.5 percentage point rise from 2023. This figure places Chongqing among the top-tier megacities in China for public transport usage.

Rail transit accounted for 22.8% of all motorized trips, up 1.7 percentage points year-on-year. Zhai attributed this increase to the city's continued improvement of pedestrian accessibility around metro stations. In 2024, 13 such enhancement projects were completed, totaling 73 projects since 2021.

One example is the pedestrian accessibility project near the Shanghao Station on the Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) Loop Line. "The station entrance was located above Nanbin Road, making it difficult for residents to access despite being within sight," the report noted. By renovating the Haitangxi New Street sidewalk and connecting it with a civil air defense passage, as well as constructing new stairways and elevators, the station was effectively linked to Nanbin Road. This reduced walking distance by 800 meters and benefited around 5,000 nearby residents. Daily passenger traffic at the station rose by 380% in 2024.

The pedestrian accessibility project near the Shanghao Station on the Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) Loop Line. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development)

On the surface transport side, Chongqing's central districts operated 975 bus routes with 9,765 buses, 56.4% of which were electric or hybrid models, making the majority of the fleet green and low-emission.

In addition, the city finalized an optimization plan for its urban slow traffic system, which is focused on walking and cycling. These systems are designed to increase the share of green travel modes.

A signature component of this system is the "Mountain City Trails," which are unique to Chongqing's hilly terrain. In 2024, 90 kilometers of new trails were added, bringing the total to 810 kilometers and further improving the city's micro-circulation network.

Mountain trails in Shapingba District, Chongqing. (Photo/Shapingba District)

Hu Guangyao, director of the Transport Planning Division at the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, said that optimization plans for key areas' slow traffic systems have been completed. The plans center around pedestrians, aiming to make walking more convenient, comfortable, and safe. "An implementation plan is underway to ensure that every district in the central area builds a slow-traffic zone each year," Hu added.