Morning Train: The Daily Commute in Beijing

Tyler Suiters accompanies Wang Yuefei, a commuter in Beijing, on her daily subway ride to work. Wang walks to the train station from her home. She says her daily commute is about 50 minutes each way, whereas many people, especially those with cars, have commutes of 90 minutes or more each way. She says she sometimes drives, but doesn't necessarily find it scary navigating Beijing's crowded roadways. Inside the station, she pays her fare of 104 Yuan, which she describes as "cheap." When the train comes, she queues up with the other passengers and boards a car with standing room only. She says it's not the worst time of day to travel - it can get more crowded. After four stops, she transfers to another train - one without air conditioning - that takes her to her office. She says she's lucky. Many people will transfer three or four times. Wang says even with the crowded conditions in the subway, she still doesn't long for a car because Beijing's traffic jams are much worse. She also says saving time is the most important factor in her choice to commute by rail. Saving money and cutting emissions are fine, but she never worries about getting to work on time when she takes the train. She says driving to work would probably take her 30 minutes longer.