Finally, Enormous Straddling Bus Comes To The Streets of China

Remember that elevated, “straddling” bus concept you saw everywhere at the beginning of the year? As futuristic as it looked, it was somehow turned into reality and launched in Hebei province this week #automagic

This is believed to be the solution to bus/personal car integration in China. It’s lifted six feet from the street, enough for cars to pass under it while commuters are safely travelling above. In fact, the electric Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) can carry 300 passengers to their destination in a 72ft long and 25ft wide body.

Such an innovative vehicle needs its own infrastructure. TEB will run on rails alongside normal roads at a maximum speed of 37 mph. Even better, four TEBs can be linked together working as an alternative to the subway: “The TEB has the same functions as the subway, while its cost of construction is less than one fifth of the subway,” added engineer Bai Zhiming about the project for news outlet CCTV.

We’ll have to see how much time it will take engineers to finish the rails and when it will actually roam on China’s streets. But if this is an indication, it will be done at “Chinese speed”.