Transport experts in China have come up with an innovative public transport system that pushes boundaries, particularly in height!

Proposed by the Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., the Fast Bus will straddle over the road, passing directly over cars, lorries and buses.

The company has recognised that the 3 main types of public transport in China are the subway, trains and buses. However, improving the subway is an expensive operation and takes a long time to build, whilst buses clog up the roads and dramatically increase noise and air pollution. In comparison to these, the 3D Fast Bus concept will offer the most environmentally friendly and cost efficient solution to China’s ever growing traffic turmoils.

The bus will measure 6 metres in width and 4-4.5 metres in height, making it high enough to straddle cars but low enough to pass under bridges and overpasses. It promises to reduce up to 25-30% traffic jams on main roads, and runs at an average speed of 40km/h. It can also take 300 passengers per cart, amounting to the transportation of 1200 people at a time. In addition, more units can be added to the bus so as to increase passenger capacity during rush hour, then removing carriages during off-peak times. It will be powered by electricity and solar energy, saving up to 860 tonnes of fuel per year and reducing 2,640 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Not only is this a greener transport solution, but it will also be a lot cheaper for China to build and run. It will cost 50 million Yuan (7.4 million USD) to build each km of the system, the same amount that it would cost to build 1 tenth of a km of the subway. Money isn’t the only thing that will be saved. It takes 1 year to build 40km of the Fast Bus line, and 3 years to build 40km of a subway line. Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co. has had to take the practical elements of the bus into consideration during their proposal, and has come up with two ways of remodeling the roads to accommodate this new bus line. Their choice is either to lay rails on either side of the car lane, or to paint 2 white lines on both sides and use auto-pilot technology to power the bus. They have also had to consider how passengers will enter and vacate the bus on station platforms, considering whether to use a built in ladder for passengers to enter via an overpass.

The 3D Fast Bus is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2011, after passing a security evaluation and being sent to a manufacturing section at the end of 2010.

Be Sociable, Share!

•