tandempower

I agree with you here. These ideas are worth coming up with and thinking critically about. The only danger from innovation comes from investors and growth-promoters who are eager to push along any new idea for the sake of stimulating spending and job-creation. We need to prioritize environmental protection and re-forestation first and make economic considerations fit within the margins of good, sustainable environmental/ecological patterns.

Wilfred Laurier

Basically an 'el' train with the elevated tracks built into the undercarriage of the train. A unique strategy, but possibly not a good one. Why not have the bus sit still and move the city beneath it?

prathmann

Not clear to me that there would be many applications where this has a clear advantage over a more conventional streetcar rail system. Their elevated rail system does use less width of roadway - about 1 meter as compared to 2.5 meters for a streetcar and their trains would be much shorter for the same number of passengers. OTOH, the proposed system runs on both sides of the car lanes so it conflicts with any entering or exiting traffic whereas a streetcar could run along the center of the street and only conflict with left-turning traffic (which could be prohibited along the RR right-of-way. Any existing overpasses or bridges also pose an issue for the proposed system due to its height and there would need to be alternate routes for any other traffic that's too tall to fit under the "air-bus". Overall I'd think most places would do better with a traditional streetcar solution unless space is so limited that the ~1.5 meter of additional roadway space is critical.

CliffordK

Can I get one of these for driving around China?


Straddle Lumber Carrier

Or perhaps a high clearance tractor/sprayer.


I could just imagine the possibilities for rush hour traffic jams

350htrr

Again... IMO, The "only" thing that needs to be done to make this work is automated driverless machines... The height "problem" is minuscule compared to all others... same with the rail tracks "problem", as it doesn't really need them.... Two vehicle driving along in the same place/road/ at the same time..., WOW.

Machka 

Which two vehicles would that be?

I've watched the video and I don't see the place where they showed two vehicles driving along in the same place/road at the same time. Where was that?

350htrr

OK, Make that a "possible dozen" vehicles driving in the same spot at the same time...

Machka 

Again ... I must have missed that ... I don't know what you're talking about. How far into the video was that?

350htrr

OK, 1 vehicle, a train/buss/trolley is driving down the road... Looks to me like a dozen cars could be going along with it/under it at the same time...? No?,

Machka 

No ...

1) the cars pass under it as if it were an overpass when the cars are moving at a speed quicker than 60 km/h, which they could well be doing on a 4-lane each way road such as in the video during non-peak hours.

2) the "air bus" passes over the cars in situations where the cars are stopped or moving very slowly because of a traffic jam.


It looks like it would be a rare occurrence, and only for short periods of time, where the cars are under the "air bus" and travelling at the same speed as the "air bus".

From reading the article, the main reason behind the "air bus" idea are the massive traffic jams in some Chinese cities. While the traffic is pretty much stopped, this "air bus" would still be able to proceed over everyone, making it the more attractive transportation option.

350htrr

Beg to differ, I see two types of vehicles using the same road at the same time... and since a dozen cars seem to fit under the "air bus" that makes 13 vehicles can be in the same spot at the same time on the same road... JMO...

Machka 

Can be ... but probably wouldn't be for very long.


The News.com.au story links to this story ...
Chinese motorists stranded in 50 lane traffic jam during long weekend rush
... and says, "China is renowned for its insane heavy traffic jams and for having a massive amount of cars on its roads."

This "air bus" is an idea that they are going to try to see if it might possibly solve some of those problems. It is, apparently, less expensive than building subways and possibly less expensive than building an overhead rail system.

Since the main trigger for the idea are those traffic jams, I would imagine that they would install it/run it along routes with particularly bad traffic congestion, meaning that it would, ideally, glide over everything. The tricky bit would be ensuring that vehicles stay in their lanes.

350htrr

And that's why it would not work without a computer controlling all the vehicles... Other than that it could work. IMO

tandempower

Automotivism is a failed Chinese social experiment. Bikes worked and they can work again, but the government probably won't switch back until the world is convinced of automotive culture's unsustainability, which could take a long LONG time in places like the US, where automotive culture is accepted as tradition by many people regardless of how sustainable or reasonable it may be to continue down that road.

Humanity has become like a cat getting its nose rubbed in its own mess for the sake of teaching it better, where China is the nose.

loky1179

I had not seen that, so thanks for sharing.

And while I enjoy seeing the artists conception of how this would work, my first impression was "that is some autocentric mass transit!".

Mass transit does not get it's own right of way, has to share the road with cars - check
A single automobile can stop it at any time - check
Mass transit is inconvenient to board and debark (Go up ONE STORY to get on the bus?!) - check
Automobiles can take shelter under the mass transit car during bad weather - check!
(OK, I made that one up!)

It is very cool and very silly at the same time. Now, if they could design an actual hover bus, that could float above traffic with no rails, and no shared roadway - I'd be all for that! Maybe a really low flying dirigible. About as likely to be built.

Machka 

Well ...

"It is understood authorities are looking to trial the bus in Hebei’s Qinhuangdao city in the second half of this year.

It isn’t the first time such an idea has come to light.

In 2010 bus designer Youzhou Song unveiled his idea to help ease China’s traffic woes.

At the time Beijing revealed it intended to build around 10kms of track but it never came to fruition according to City Lab.

However this time, Xinhua news agency confirmed Beijing-based company Transit Explore Bus is building a life-size model in Changzhou and plan to begin tests in a few months."

Bus that drives over cars: China unveils futuristic transport concept


So we'll have to wait and see.

tandempower

This bus looks like it would drive over cars.

Roody

I feel bad for China. They are being punished for our crimes, not their own. They've done plenty of bad things in areas not relevant to this forum, but when it comes to trying out new non-automotive solutions, they are knights in shining armor.

loky1179

I agree. Maybe this is a stupid idea. Maybe it will be just the ticket. At least the Chinese are trying new things.

In the USA, many consider it too expensive to implement 19th century technology i.e. electric commuter rail.

loky1179

That would be the "Hybrid Bicycle" version of mass transit - works both on-road and off-road!

Machka 

"REMEMBER that crazy, futuristic bus Chinese engineers dreamed up? Well they’ve actually gone ahead and built and successfully tested it."

Bus that drives over cars and traffic was actually built and tested in China

Machka 

It was never a joke.

They have built it and tested it, but only on a very controlled track so far. I would think the next step would be to test it in a bit more realistic traffic situation.

I don't know why cyclists would have a problem with it. I rather doubt cyclists would want to ride in the track. Chances are cyclists would ride out of the way, closer to the curb.

I-Like-To-Bike

It is actually built and still is a joke. Might be useful as a prop in a future Chinese Superhero movie though.

CliffordK

An odd design. Apparently rubber tires, but runs in a track.

As far as bicycles, it may take up a big chunk of the road shoulders with the tracks and wheels. So when it comes along at 40 MPH or so, one might have to just get out of the way (or go under it).

Most of the photos, however, show it being used on divided highways which may not be bike friendly anyway.

Like others, I fear there will be some fundamental problems with the concept, and the whole project will be eventually abandoned, perhaps after some traffic accidents or fatalities.

enigmaT120

I think drivers (if any) of lifted 4WD pickups and SUVs would have more concerns. I guess no semis on that road, either.