China Developing Traffic-Straddling Bus That Drives Over Cars
Posted By Ariel Schwartz On August 3, 2010 @ 7:01 pm In Green Transportation | 10 Comments
[4]
We’re all for creative public transportation [5], but this scheme from Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co. may go a little too far. The so-called Straddling Bus [6] looks kind of like an above-ground subway — except for the part where regular cars go under the subway cars.
[7]
The system, unveiled at the Beijing [8] International High-tech Expo in May, consists of a 4 to 4.5 meter-high subway car with passenger boarding on the upper level and a hollow shell on the lower level for vehicles [9] to pass through.
Shenzhen Hashi spouts off some impressive statistics for the system: capacity for 1200 to 1400 passengers, reduction in traffic jams by 20% to 30%, and cheap building costs (10% of the cost of a traditional subway). But we have to wonder about the safety of this thing. Would you really feel comfortable driving under a bus [10]?
Chinese [11] residents won’t have a choice — Beijing [12]’s Mentougou District is already planning a pilot project for the system.
Via Engadget [13]
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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/china-developing-traffic-straddling-bus-that-drives-over-cars/
[4] Image: http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/03/china-developing-traffic-straddling-bus-that-drives-over-cars/bus1/
[5] public transportation: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/&sa=X&ei=1VpYTJiBNYi-sQOpoK2ZCg&ved=0CBcQzgQoATAA&usg=AFQjCNF_sFBswKw4mZhhLIhLbj15mpRtWg
[6] Bus: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/01/solar-powered-bus-shelter-unveiled-in-san-francisco/&sa=X&ei=olpYTP2oG4H4swPPpb3MCw&ved=0CBsQzgQoADAA&usg=AFQjCNEd_K8mAZxrpHRkX-fwRjNK2LlasQ
[7] Image: http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/03/china-developing-traffic-straddling-bus-that-drives-over-cars/bus2-2/
[8] Beijing: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/02/27/bubble-building-national-swim-center-in-beijing/&sa=X&ei=fFpYTO7COoXUtQOVrd2uCQ&ved=0CBwQzgQoATAA&usg=AFQjCNHoy57s_6HWevPgSTZk6Ms7qJwhEQ
[9] vehicles: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/11/transporation-tuesday-curitiba/&sa=X&ei=7FpYTOM4hqixA4PC8bsL&ved=0CBQQzgQoADAA&usg=AFQjCNH8F-s3P6KeJh5D76hnCArlCWORrA
[10] bus: http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/17/londons-hybrid-double-decker-bus-officially-unveiled-today/
[11] Chinese: http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/28/magic-mountains-prismatic-inhabitable-hills-for-china/
[12] Beijing: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/06/us-embassy-in-beijing-as-a-green-neighborhood/&sa=X&ei=BltYTNnENIuosQPi3aDKCw&ved=0CBoQzgQoATAA&usg=AFQjCNEaLasUpPRali3AQGz0dpgHe1T6MA
[13] Engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/china-to-build-ginormous-buses-that-cars-can-drive-under-video/
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