Wenyi Zhang
Research expert covering Greater China
Urban public transportation in China - statistics & facts
For decades, car driving has been the primary mode of travel in most regions of the world, resulting in an ever-increasing number of cars worldwide, and China is no exception. As of 2022, the number of cars in China amounted to almost 320 million, 1.3 times more than a decade ago, placing a huge burden on the country's road network. In first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai, people take an average of around 40 minutes to commute to their workplaces. During rush hour, the average driving speed in Beijing can get as low as 24.45 kilometers per hour.
Regarding public transport volume, Guangdong Province ranked the highest nationwide with more than 7.25 billion person-times in 2022, significantly higher than other major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. To reduce urban congestion, the province has introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BTR) system in recent years -where buses could enjoy a free lane on the highway avoiding traffic and delays. Moreover, the Chinese government heavily subsidizes the cost of public travel in cities to boost the attractiveness of public transportation and reduce the number of private trips. As for the future of the mobility scene in China, it was expected that shared mobility would gain in popularity with around a four percent compound annual growth rate by 2050, but public transportation was also forecasted to grow around three percent in terms of the number of trips.
China has been promoting a clean and green public transportation system by increasing the number of electric vehicles in its fleet and related infrastructure. The share of all-electric buses in the fleet has skyrocketed over the past six years, from just 15.6 percent in 2016 to 64.8 percent in 2022.
The rapid growth of electric buses in the fleet
The highest urban public transport ridership in China is by bus or trolley bus, at about 35 billion in 2022. This was followed by 21 billion taxi passengers and around 19 billion metro/subway riders. During the year, about 703,200 buses and trolleybuses were in operation in urban China. The proportion of public transport vehicles available has been steadily increasing from only 3.6 units per 10,000 inhabitants in 1995 to more than 14 units per 10,000 residents in 2022.China has been promoting a clean and green public transportation system by increasing the number of electric vehicles in its fleet and related infrastructure. The share of all-electric buses in the fleet has skyrocketed over the past six years, from just 15.6 percent in 2016 to 64.8 percent in 2022.
