The Bus That Rides Above Traffic

An anonymous reader writes "China is the new tech king. They're developing a new, two-lane bus system that travels over traffic below. It's claimed to cost 10% of a subway system and use 30% less energy than current bus technologies." This one has been boggling my brain. I can't see how this is a good idea or safe. But it sure is awesome.

Comments

Re:Since when...

[serialband]

Most of that stuff was invented independently in Europe, so even if China never existed, we'd still have those items. Plus you gave credit for some things that were actually invented by the Arabs or the Romans/Greeks. Like the compass.

What whitewashed history book did you read? Even http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compass says that the compass was invented in China.

Re:Looks nifty assuming no one crashes into the ra

[TheLink]

> People basically just do whatever the hell they want.

Therefore they're not better drivers. And I think the statistics do indicate that drivers in China are worse than those in the US.

As for anecdotal evidence:

1) A friend of mine has a chinese wife. When he was visiting her relatives in China, he had the opportunity to get into the driver's seat and started adjusting the rearview mirror. His wife's relatives at the back asked what he was doing, and it seems they were unclear on the concept of the rear view mirror, and they used it more as a vanity mirror :).

2) Another friend of mine visited China and his taxi driver drove the wrong way around the roundabout just because it was a shorter distance.

3) When my brother went to China, his van driver drove on the wrong side of the road for a significant period till oncoming traffic almost hit them - then the van driver swerved to the correct side. What bothered my brother a lot was that the driver actually looked scared by the incident.

4) I personally know people who have gone to china and not come back alive because of traffic accidents.

In contrast I do not hear of such problems from friends or relatives going to USA, UK or Australia. I have had friends who had problems with "black ice" in the UK, fortunately nonfatal, but that's a different thing.

Some translation points...

[grumpyman]

• it is greener than bus (noise and air)
• idea is combination of bus rapid transit (BRT) and subway
• common cities have height limit of 4.5-5 m: this new vehicle make use of the space between the regular cars and under bridge/overpass
• the key benefit is reduce road use and the use of main road/conduits by 25-30%
• average speed is 40km/hr
• capacity is 1200 (each section is 300)!!!
• another benefit is build-out time: 40km segment takes 1 year vs subway takes minimum 3 years
• no need for bus terminal parking - just park at stations
• two alternatives for build-out: one is to build 2 rails; one is no rail but using guiding system to make sure it follows the white-lines
• using BRT idea of express in stopping general traffic at certain junction for the vehicle to pass first (e.g. turning)
• passenger entrances/exits can be on 2 sides or on 'vehicle' roof top
• powered by electricity and supplement by solar
• recharged using 'taps' co-located at light post (relay)
• each vehicle reduces use of gasoline 864 tons and green house gas 2640 tons (???)
• 1st stage technology trial is completed (???)
• a suburb/town near Bejing is planning 186km for this vehicle and start construction this year

Re:Congestion?

[rackeer]

I was very impressed by the video, but I also worry about how to change the lange when under the "bus."

In the video they say it is much faster to build such a highway than building subway. And the bus is driven by both solar energy and electricity.

What I find also cool, if not better, is the suspended railway in the German town Wuppertal. It seems to me it as all of the advantages, minus maybe time and money, and avoids the trap problem.

Re:Shades of Oakland

[Smallpond]

it was attempted in the 60's. Pittsburgh does now have separate busways, but not elevated.