...and we might also want to tell you that our city is getting at least three more full-service freeways in about the next 3 years to come...

OK, so out on the freeways, those cars might not clog everything up, as the ready availability of ETC on the superhighways means that we'll see less jams at toll gates. Nearly every toll gate is promised an ETC lane by May 2010, which is pretty much good news if you've an ETC kit.

However, what about the non-ETC-savvy roads inside central Beijing? Congestion charges, super-expensive parking fees; they're all part of the great plan to get Beijing moving — without overwhelming the streets. Avenues have been widened while former hutong residents have moved beyond the beltways, and it still looks like we're getting nowhere. And whatever happened to Yikatong (Beijing Super Pass) support for parking lots, promised as early as late 2008?

400 million cars — double the amount at the start of the decade. This ain't the Beijing your Beijingologist grew up with... and with the massive Subway works in progress, it will never be the same old Beijing.