Reading the newspapers around the world one finds that athletes are worried about the weather at the Olympics — mainly in the hands of the gods — and the pollution, particularly from cigarette smoke. Now Beijing has banned smoking in taxis.

Smoking is now banned in all of the city’s 66,000 taxis for both drivers and passengers. Drivers will be fined $13-26 if caught smoking at the wheel.

Ma Yanjie, deputy head of the city’s taxi bureau said passengers caught smoking will have their names ‘exposed through media.’ The agency said green-colored ‘No Smoking’ signs have been posted in most taxis and the ban is now in force.

Other measures to allow Beijing to breathe — at least during the Olympic games — are limits to the number of cars in the city and the closure of factories. There will also be etiquette campaigns to stamp out bad manners like jumping ahead in line, spitting, littering and reckless driving.
Source: Canadian Business