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China Transportation Science Technology

China Builds 'Elevated Bus' That Drives Over Cars (washingtonpost.com) 176

An anonymous reader writes: Remember that futuristic bus design from China a few months ago? China has actually built it and is testing it on the streets. The Transit Elevated Bus or TEB-1, as it's called, stands nearly 16 feet tall and straddles two lanes of traffic, allowing cars to pass under it. The hope is for TEB-1 to someday alleviate major traffic in China and other crowded countries. Washington Post reports: "The Transit Elevated Bus piloted in China's Hebei province rolls along a designated track, making it similar in some ways to a commuter train or tram -- the key difference, of course, being that it runs on top of the existing roadway without the need to construct a separate overpass. Images distributed by Chinese media show a spacious passenger compartment -- measuring 72 feet long by 26 feet wide -- capable of holding up to 300 riders. Surprisingly, there are not very many seats. That would probably have to change should an American model ever come to fruition." The concept of the elevated bus first arrived in 2010, where the company claimed it would "cost 10% of a subway system and use 30% less energy than current bus technologies."
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China Builds 'Elevated Bus' That Drives Over Cars

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  • by Edis Krad ( 1003934 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @09:26PM (#52641365)
    I still can't wrap my head around the idea of turning when you're stuck under that beast. I imagine there would have to changes to traffic law to fix that. Let the behemoth pass over you first before you can take a left or right.
    • by Harlequin80 ( 1671040 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @09:36PM (#52641403)

      Lol. If you ever go to China then you will understand that written road rules don't really seem to matter. There is a definite attitude of biggest gets right of way. If you get hit by this thing you are going to be the one in trouble.

      • Lol. If you ever go to China then you will understand that written road rules don't really seem to matter. There is a definite attitude of biggest gets right of way. If you get hit by this thing you are going to be the one in trouble.

        This. A million times this. I've been to China. It's one scary place to be in an automobile. A few years ago I was in Shanghai and I took a taxi from my hotel to the airport. It was a fairly long drive, maybe 40 minutes, and a good chunk of it was on a 6 lane (each direction) highway. It was maybe around 10:30 AM and since the airport is, like in many major cities, actually fairly far away from the city center and kind of in the middle of nowhere, there weren't a lot of cars on the road at the time.

        • I took a taxi from my hotel to the airport. It was a fairly long drive, maybe 40 minutes, and a good chunk of it was on a 6 lane (each direction) highway. It was maybe around 10:30 AM and since the airport is, like in many major cities, actually fairly far away from the city center and kind of in the middle of nowhere, there weren't a lot of cars on the road at the time. My taxi driver was fine but the other drivers were most assuredly not. I saw people talking on mobile phones and some woman putting on makeup and many cars swerving back and forth between multiple lanes without a care in the world. My driver couldn't speak English and I can't speak Mandarin, but it was obvious that he wasn't happy with what he was seeing either.

          Sounds exactly like my last trip to Dallas.

    • by goombah99 ( 560566 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @09:37PM (#52641411)

      What if you have a dozen crates of chickens on top of your car?

      • You don't see that inside the centre of major cities where these are likely to be used.

        That said Beijing roads are really really weird. They have these massive roads right through the middle but no traffic. First time I went there my wife asked if we had missed the zombie apocalypse because the place felt empty. Their metro on the other hand was packed like no where else I have seen.

        • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

          They are building in the infrastructure to handle the traffic they expect in the future. Forward planning and all that. It's something that the west can't really do because the economic/commercial benefit of doing it today isn't great enough, but China thinks about the longer term.

          • by tomhath ( 637240 )

            It's something that the west can't really do because the economic/commercial benefit of doing it today isn't great enough

            The main holdup in the US is something called "private property". Yes, you can take it by eminent domain, but that's really difficult and always involves long legal battles.

            • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

              That's kind of what I was getting at, although I'd point out that Japan has private property and a democratic government and still managed to build infrastructure better than most western countries.

              • Which is it, China or Japan?

                They are building in the infrastructure to handle the traffic they expect in the future. Forward planning and all that. It's something that the west can't really do because the economic/commercial benefit of doing it today isn't great enough, but China thinks about the longer term.

                Then you said:

                That's kind of what I was getting at, although I'd point out that Japan has private property and a democratic government and still managed to build infrastructure better than most western

                • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

                  What I mean is that China can plan because it's not a democracy, but having said that there are other democracies (Japan) that do far better than the west so merely being a democracy and having private ownership isn't the only factor.

                  And by the way, China has private ownership too.

            • by gfxguy ( 98788 )
              When the government can take your home using eminent domain for the purposes of getting more tax dollars from private businesses, I don't see why it's an issue of using eminent domain for how it was actually intended.
          • It's something that the west can't really do because the economic/commercial benefit of doing it today isn't great enough, but China thinks about the longer term.

            What? Surely you jest. China is operating like any corporation and focusing on the short term. They are polluting the fuck out of the planet which will have long-term consequences. They are building infrastructure whose future use depends on endless growth, which is unsustainable — hence why so much of it is lying unused. Ask Spain how that's worked out for them. None of this separates them from most other nations, but they are most certainly not planning for the future.

          • Partially this. But also they have banned cars on alternate days in beijing dependent on your number plate. Even numbers 1 day odds the next. This has meant everyone has had to plan around not being able to drive in 2 or 3 days a week.

            The only exception to this is if your vehicle is electric. It was amazing to see hundreds and hundreds of electric scooters with chargers everywhere.

        • by raddan ( 519638 ) *
          I'm not sure that you don't see that. The last time I was in Beijing, I took a photo of an intersection that included:
          1. A modern jet flying overhead.
          2. A modern train (light rail?) passing through.
          3. Numerous cars and trucks.
          4. A vast quantity of people on bicycles, some of whom were hauling mind-boggling amounts of stuff.
          5. At least one rickshaw.
          6. A cart, full of fresh vegetables, drawn by a donkey, pretty much in the middle of the intersection.
          7. And, of course, many pedestrians.

          I was disappointed that there wasn't water

          • Fair enough. I was in beijing in march as well as in Guanzhou for work for 3 weeks. In the main business districts I only saw vehicles and pedestrians. Outside of the centre though and it because a mix of anything. I particularly like the little trike things with the ute back.

    • by gijoel ( 628142 )
      It doesn't matter what new laws you institute for this sort of thing. People are still going to plow straight into the sides of that bus.
    • by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @11:15PM (#52641823)

      It's a lot like electric light rail. You don't turn when one is in the way.

    • My questions is, what happen to any overhead cables/lamps/whatever? There are still lots of those around.

      Cool idea though

    • My main worry about the concept is in the response it might provoke from drivers. I know that here in the UK, we have regulations regarding the proximity of busy roads to the ends of runways, not particularly because of any risk of aircraft hitting road vehicles, but rather primarily because of the "flinch" reaction that the sudden appearance of a very low aircraft overhead might produce in drivers.

      Humans tend to reach to the sudden appearance of large things immediately above their heads. Even a momentary

    • And let's not forget pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, trucks, and tall people on bikes....

    • by mysidia ( 191772 )

      I imagine there would have to changes to traffic law to fix that.

      Mount red traffic lights on the undercarriage, and on longarms extending out a car-length ahead of the vehicle, so people know they are not allowed to turn while the vehicle is moving over them.

      Also, speed limit the busses to 5 to 10mph.

    • Maybe go watch the research videos that actual show modelling of how it deals with stops, turning, and intersections. https://youtu.be/jNyEi1xMyvo [youtu.be] about 2/3rd down for what you want to see. Pretty cool.
    • by gfxguy ( 98788 )
      What could possibly go wrong?
    • I'm figuring that this would mostly be used on freeways, so the uber-bus can go ahead and ignore traffic jams while being much cheaper than overhead rail.
  • by Anonymous Coward

    Why is everyone calling this thing a "bus"? It runs on *tracks* built into the sides of the road. Isn't that more like a train or a streetcar or something?

    • Re:Terminology (Score:5, Informative)

      by Sique ( 173459 ) on Thursday August 04, 2016 @12:36AM (#52642087) Homepage
      Why do you think a bus cannot run on rails?

      In Europe, rail-bound busses are very common, they are actually called railbusses [wikipedia.org].

  • Remember that futuristic bus design from China a few months ago?

    Wasn't this bus in one of the Harry Potter movies?

  • What can go wrong and just wait for a multi way upper and lower traffic light to go in to blanking red mode

    • I was thinking more like getting run over by this thing. How often are cars exactly in their lane? Or bike riders/pedestrians.

      The idea that running rails down roads is better than elevated trains is interesting. Maybe it is cheaper - but sure seems dangerous.

      This thing still has to wait in traffic. If a car is trying to change lanes and is stuck waiting to merge the train can't pass over them. I seriously wonder whether this thing will be better in practice.

    • Is this a question or a statement?
  • Typical tech from a country that thinks shaving 10% off the commuting time is worth killing 3-4 people a month cuz your fancy bus killed some fellow motorists.

    I'm just surprised China isn't charging the victims for extra wear on their tires.
  • by Anonymous Coward

    "... should an American model ever come to fruition."
    Given the unhygienic condition of most of American public transport(with Americans defecating and urinating all over them), it is better this does not come to USA.
    Always surprised that Americans here mention the unhygienic nature of Indian public places, whenever India come up here, but they always forget American public transport and habits of American citizens, are no better.

    -
    Will get voted down for pointing out facts

    • Given the unhygienic condition of most of American public transport (with Americans defecating and urinating all over them)

      Replace "America" with "China" and your spot-on. Only one flaw in your propaganda; not bad for a shill.

  • by walterbyrd ( 182728 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @10:09PM (#52641581)

    Can it make a 90 degree turn?

    • by caseih ( 160668 )

      No to the first question. Since it follows a set track, I imagine they lay track wherever it can go. To the third question, the answer is yes, if the track makes a right-hand turn. One of the videos showed that, though it's not clear to me the mechanism that makes the bus flexible like a tram, especially being so wide.

      • If you look at the image, you can see that each wheel set is on an overhead bearing and then then two wheel sets are joined together with another overhead bearing. This should make this pretty maneuverable. If it were on a flat pad, I'd fully expect it to be able to turn 360-degrees in place.
  • by 93 Escort Wagon ( 326346 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @10:18PM (#52641619)

    You have the expense of laying track, plus the expense of producing a very small number of these extremely specialized vehicles. Why not lay track and run a mass-produced light rail train or streetcar on it instead?

    • by speedplane ( 552872 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @10:33PM (#52641697) Homepage

      You have the expense of laying track, plus the expense of producing a very small number of these extremely specialized vehicles.

      There is a lot to criticize in this project, but the pace in which China can take crazy ideas, add manufacturing innovation, and put them into the real world is pretty spectacular.

      • by larryjoe ( 135075 ) on Thursday August 04, 2016 @01:43AM (#52642273)

        There is a lot to criticize in this project, but the pace in which China can take crazy ideas, add manufacturing innovation, and put them into the real world is pretty spectacular.

        It's definitely a crazy idea, but not necessarily more crazy than the hyperloop. China is to be applauded for trying a crazy new idea, which hopefully will allow them to observe and improve any significant deficiencies.

    • by skam240 ( 789197 )

      Because this is far more space efficient as it runs over existing infastructure rather than replacing or taking up even more space.

      Your slashdot signature says it all here btw :).

      • Because this is far more space efficient as it runs over existing infastructure rather than replacing or taking up even more space.

        Your slashdot signature says it all here btw :).

        Actually in this instance I had read this article and looked at the photo. I'm not convinced the support structure (x2) ends up being all that much narrower than a light rail train or streetcar.

        This behemoth doesn't hover - the support structures still require tracks, which either means additional pavement gets laid or else existing pavement gets repurposed. This is the same as with a streetcar or light rail - they can share right of way with existing roads.

        • by skam240 ( 789197 )

          You can't be serious.

          Anyone whose seen rail in action knows it takes multiple lanes worth of traffic space to operate safely. Sure, you still need safe boarding areas and room for the tracks for this but the bulk of the machine operates above existing roadways. The passengers are carried above roadways thus all of the cabin space (the bulk of a mass transit machine) is absorbed by elevated space that doesnt impact the surrounding areas.

          I'm not saying the concept is flawless but on this point I don't underst

    • by Kjella ( 173770 )

      You have the expense of laying track, plus the expense of producing a very small number of these extremely specialized vehicles. Why not lay track and run a mass-produced light rail train or streetcar on it instead?

      Lack of space, number of crossings required. This looks like an attempt to make a cheap subway, going above instead of going below. You will have all the annoyances of a tram line though, one car stuck in the tracks, an accident or such and you're blocked. On the other hand, if they jam full that bus like the Japanese do it could transport a helluva lot of people.

      • by PPH ( 736903 )

        one car stuck in the tracks, an accident or such and you're blocked

        But most countries don't screw around with stalled cars and accidents like we do. They don't have half the police force standing around the site for half a day with their hands in their pockets. They get the people (or bodies) out, bring up a front loader [gorge.net.au] or other large truck, push the disabled car into the ditch or up on a curb and get traffic moving again.

        • Seriously. The other day a limited access highway I use for my commute here in Virginia was shut down entirely in one direction, traffic sent on a detour through the local streets and traffic backed up for miles in both directions, due to someone's bike having fallen off a vehicle and landed in the road. There was a cop taking pictures, with dozens of those little evidence markers, a children's bike in the middle of the road, and several other cops blocking the road and redirecting traffic, for what should
    • because it is going to be blocked by traffic? This is an alternative to elevated trains or subways... both much more expensive.

    • You have the expense of laying track, plus the expense of producing a very small number of these extremely specialized vehicles. Why not lay track and run a mass-produced light rail train or streetcar on it instead?

      The Chinese government does not operate on simple premises of saving money. They are willing (and are capable) to run projects on the red for decades if they believe it is necessary to accommodate change or boost economic output. Just look at all the infrastructure projects connecting Shenzhen, Guangzhou and all the other metropolis in the Pearl River Delta (I don't remember where I saw it that the infrastructure will run in red for two decades.)

      And how about the planned Jing-Jin-Ji megapolis (and I know

  • This is more an elevated streetcar. It runs on tracks.
  • by fluffernutter ( 1411889 ) on Wednesday August 03, 2016 @11:07PM (#52641801)
    What happened to all the Slashdotters that INSISTED that THIS COULD NOT BE DONE? Did their heads explode before they could comment?
    • Re:Kapew (Score:5, Insightful)

      by 6Yankee ( 597075 ) on Thursday August 04, 2016 @01:44AM (#52642283)

      They're right here INSISTING that well, okay okay, it got built, but IT'LL NEVER WORK! Because turns and trucks and bridges and all KINDS of DUH OBVIOUS real-world stuff (not that they've ever seen it, holed up their moms' basements) that those stupid "engineers" CLEARLY haven't thought about before pissing away MILLIONS on this thing!

      In other words, a normal day on Slashdot. :)

      • Re:Kapew (Score:4, Funny)

        by Imrik ( 148191 ) on Thursday August 04, 2016 @06:01AM (#52642885) Homepage

        To be fair, they're used to dealing with American projects.

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by gsslay ( 807818 )

        You don't understand. The average slashdotter can envisage things in 1 min's consideration that 100s of Chinese engineers will simply not think of in years of work.

      • They're right here INSISTING that well, okay okay, it got built, but IT'LL NEVER WORK! Because turns and trucks and bridges and all KINDS of DUH OBVIOUS real-world stuff (not that they've ever seen it, holed up their moms' basements) that those stupid "engineers" CLEARLY haven't thought about before pissing away MILLIONS on this thing!

        In other words, a normal day on Slashdot. :)

        Honestly, all of those things *are* problems. But the problems won't get solved (or the whole thing shown to be a major debacle) without building it and playing around with it. This is v 0.9, give them some time to work out the kinks and see how the rest of the city interacts with it. Another problem I see is the fact that all seating is on the second floor, meaning the elderly and handicapped are going to have a harder time of it. But, again, they're not done, they're just getting started.

        At least they

        • by 6Yankee ( 597075 )

          Exactly, build a prototype and see if it works well enough to make demolishing bridges elsewhere worth it.

          The stations are clearly elevated much as you would have with an overhead monorail, etc., in which case lifts/ramps are doable for access. Even though everyone's calling it a bus, I see this less as a replacement for a regular city bus with stops every block, more for a metro system with a relatively limited number of stops.

  • by Anonymous Coward
    Is it just me or does the main deck look like strip bar, except for the windows?
  • "The Transit Elevated Bus piloted in China's Hebei province rolls along a designated track, making it similar in some ways to a commuter train or tram -- the key difference, of course, being that it runs on top of the existing roadway without the need to construct a separate overpass" Not exactly true. You still have to construct the rails on which the support columns ride. You can't just ride it on any existing roadways out of the box.
  • Mass transit that allows car-based bombs to position themselves right under the passengers. Brilliant.
    • How is this different from driving an 18-wheeler full of nitrate in the middle of Manhattan, Downtown LA or Miami/Brickell Financial District in the middle of rush hour?

      You don't even a big truck full of explosive among a shitload of traffic. The Oklahoma City Bombing was carried out with a parked Ryder rental truck, parked right in front of a building. Go google the pictures.

      Anything related to transportation or public spaces can be susceptible to car bombing. If we let that concern stop us from buil

  • Yes it's just cg but it's the plan. 2/3s in to see traffic. https://youtu.be/jNyEi1xMyvo [youtu.be]
    • I like how in the CGI video, the whole thing bends (including the cars!) like a big hot dog instead of the individual "cars" flexing at the joints only.

  • Or you could just build an elevated roadway/train and just use regular busses. The only place I see something like this being useful is on a high way where no one is trying to turn left or right all the time.
    • by tomhath ( 637240 )
      My thoughts too. It requires a track, so why not just build an elevated monorail or something like that.
      • I would think cost.

        It would seem to me that a rail on either side of a road way would be a lot cheaper than building a whole elevated deck.

        • True but then again those busses they are building are a lot more expensive than regular busses nor will see the same kind of regular improvements that standard busses will receive in the market place. Also an elevated road way could be used for regular traffic at times if needed.
  • Only 300 people? Come now. I've spent a lot of time in China. They fit over 300 people on a normal bus with 1/4 the space of this thing.

  • if it's not nuclear powered then i'm not interested!

    http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt007... [imdb.com]

    snake

  • "cost 10% of a subway system and use 30% less energy than current bus technologies."

    OK I get that it costs less way less than a subway system. However that is only because they are exorbitantly expensive, usually because they are being built under existing development. 30% less energy than current bus technology? Not so sure of that, given construction costs, repairs/downtime, infrastructure costs, and for very low values of what "current bus technology" is. I'll throw out my own statistic, I bet it will al

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