This is why China beats us.

**ExitNine** · 08-06-2010 10:51 PM

Ginormous Bus Straddles Road, Drives Above Cars

China is all about the future of transportation. High-speed trains criss cross the countryside, sending people whizzing from Shanghai to Beijing at speeds over 200 miles per hour. And General Motors has even developed a tiny urban car that's designed just for Chinese urban drivers.
But now a company has designed something called a "straddling bus." Basically, it's a huge bus that operates like a train on wheels, and is so tall that cars can drive right under it. Each bus is about two street lanes wide and 18 feet tall, according to Song Youzhou, the chairman of Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Company, which is building these enormous buses.

With Chinese traffic growing rapidly, designers intend to have as many commuters on the road as is efficiently possible. This straddling bus won't get in the way of any buses or cars currently on the roads, and will only add capacity to the public transportation infrastructure.
In a rough translation of Youzhou's presentation I found, he says, "The highlight innovation of the straddling bus is that it runs above cars and under overpass. Its biggest strength is saving road space, efficient and high in capacity."

+ YouTube Video

**Gjallarhorn** · 08-06-2010 10:55 PM

It's more like a train, but instead of elevating they track, they made it its own bridge. Interesting, that's for sure.

**Skylar1** · 08-06-2010 11:01 PM

That's pretty neat.

Though, I worry about the safety of it. I mean, what happens if one of those trucks gets into an accident around one of them. Or, if there's a pile up when the cars are underneath the thing. Probably stuff that'll be worked out, but still.

**Acnologia** · 08-07-2010 01:08 AM

Yeah, can you imagine an 18 wheeler under that? They can't even fit under the toll booth.

And also how would it turn? Is it segmented?

**DOOM!** · 08-07-2010 03:55 AM

It's no less impractical than a train - it still uses railings and probably can't turn on crossroads.

**Eris** · 08-07-2010 04:02 AM

China beats America in infrastructure because most developed countries beat America in infrastructure. American infrastructure is so broken it's not even funny.

But also, CG is cheap. I want to see a working full scale model of that thing before I believe in it.

**DOOM!** · 08-07-2010 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by Eris

China beats America in infrastructure because most developed countries beat America in infrastructure. American infrastructure is so broken it's not even funny.

That explains why all those Final Destination movie cases happen in the US: everything is so broken death can turn a mousetrap with just a slight nudge.

**Ranshiin** · 08-07-2010 06:55 AM

You guys realise this is still an idea in progress, right?

Although apparently they ARE working on this ... apparently it may be ready end of 2011 for a potential trial run ....

:/

**Nanobyte** · 08-07-2010 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by Mac

You guys realise this is still an idea in progress, right?

Although apparently they ARE working on this ... apparently it may be ready end of 2011 for a potential trial run ....

:/

Make that end of 2016. .__.

**Aku no Hikari** · 08-07-2010 08:47 AM

Now this is really something.

I say Go China!

**blueangel06661** · 08-07-2010 09:33 AM

I've read about this. It most certainly has some wrinkles to work out.

-Wrecks. If I saw this thing pass over me I'd be distracted. I'm sure other drivers would too. What happens if theres a wreck below it and it hits one of the railings of the bus/train?

-Traffic lights. It looks like the overall size will be taller than the height of traffic signals so they'd have to re-do the signals to make them higher or something.

Over-all it seems like a nice idea but I can't see it being able to do turns efficiently either. Though even without this idea China/Japan are still superior in means of mass transportation.

**Sanosuke23** · 08-07-2010 01:17 PM

I like the idea, but as people have pointed out already how is it going to make certain turns? I can only assume this would be used for the Chinese equivalent of interstate travel here in the US: Few hard turns and mostly open, flat roads.

**Lord** · 08-07-2010 01:31 PM

I think the whole idea will fail because it's to risky for the safety. As everyone here question the risk the whole china will question the whole idea.

**Wio** · 08-08-2010 03:13 AM

I've seen a lot of neat ideas that China has to revolutionize transportation, and if there is one thing they all have in common it's their complete disregard for safety. Maybe the one-child policy isn't working quickly enough.