China Tests New "Straddle Bus" To Fight Traffic Issues
Photos: China tests “straddle bus” that drives over cars on Tue. in North China’s Qinhuangdao (Photo: Xinhua) pic.twitter.com/SzWKeqpUMO
— CCTV America (@CCTV_America) August 2, 2016
BBC — It may look like something from the future, but China’s long-awaited “straddling bus” ran its inaugural test in Hebei province this week.
The 2m-high Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) straddles the cars below, allowing them to pass through.
Powered by electricity, the bus is able to carry up to 300 passengers in its 72ft (21m) long and 25ft wide body.
A video of a mini-model of the vehicle caused great excitement when it was released in May.
So China unveiled this puppy yesterday. First test run. A bus that just straddles the road so as to not take up road space. I have to be honest, China might be getting close here. They’re obviously a “throw enough shit at the wall and something eventually will stick” country and I think this might stick. It’s close. Traffic sucks, has always sucked, and any efforts to improve traffic will get the unwavering support of basically everyone. I mean look at the Big Dig — $12 billion over budget, 9 years past schedule and traffic’s worse now but everyone’s like “hey, good try gang.” This won’t permanently solve traffic but looks like China’s on the right track. Way better than all that self-driving car nonsense that’s killing people left and right. I need to be up in this sweet straddle bus lounge hovering past rush-hour traffic and I needed it yesterday. Only thing missing is some glass floors so you can wave at all the suckers below.
I do have one concern. This thing’s only 6 meters** high? I know China’s all little people but what, the cars only eat rice too? Seems odd. No SUVs? No pickups? Could be a little annoying you’re moving apartments, maybe grab a UHaur, sitting in traffic and boom, the straddle bus slices you right in half. Feels like a design flaw. Guess that’s why it’s just a test.
**correction: meant 6 feet. 2 meters = about 6 feet. lol @ places that use meters.
PS – China also just opened this glass bridge/walkway like two billion feet high on the Tianmen mountain. As big of a home run as the straddle bus may be, this is a flop. Get this out of here immediately.
