BRT of The Future

[Captain Zissou]

Ginormous Traffic-Swallowing Straddling Bus Coming to U.S.

Overhead power lines, bridges and box trucks beware: The giant, lane-straddling bus Chinese engineers hope will someday conquer that country’s legendary traffic by swallowing it whole is one step closer to cruising over rush hours from Los Angeles to Boston.

The Straddling Bus is one part monorail, one part monster truck. As the incredibly awesome illustration above shows, the extra-wide, extra-tall bus straddles two lanes of traffic, allowing passenger cars and small trucks to pass underneath.

It’s the brainchild of Song Youzhou of Shenzhen, who announced yesterday the formation of a U.S. company that will develop business links stateside. U.S. Elevated High-Speed Bus (Group) is looking for manufacturers to build the vehicle and representatives to sell it.

“The word ‘revolutionary’ is so overused, but this new bus actually is revolutionary,” said company spokesman Mark Shieh. “Relative to the cost of a subway line or other rail transit, our bus delivers extraordinary value. Aside from the low cost, the time for construction is about one third that for a subway.”

The company plans to start work in China as soon as 2011. According to Song, the buses carry “hundreds” of passengers and will be powered by electricity with a little help from roof-mounted solar panels. Buses ride eight feet above traffic on rails or painted yellow lines outside of car-traffic lanes. They travel over traffic at speeds ranging from 25 to 50 mph and are sure to scare the bejeezus out of old ladies in Sebring convertibles.

Read More http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/10/straddling-bus-coming-to-america/#ixzz13ZjwrCtj

[fsujax]

Blanding Blvd.!

[Ocklawaha]

Won't work. Just remember you heard that here first.

First time someone try's to make a left turn under that thing...
First time someone try's to enter the road as it approaches...
First time some driver panic's and hit's the wall...
First time someone has a fender bender which sends someone into the wall...
First time someone driving this monster misjudges the height of the pickup camper, UPS van etc. in front...
First time someone on the corner is swept away by the sweeping turn...

ZEPPELIN'S OPERATED BY DRUG CRAZED PYGMY'S WILL SUCCEED FIRST...
NOW I REALLY NEED THAT DOCTOR APPOINTMENT!

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

I don't think this thing will ever work.  There's no way this could ever function on a conventional bus route, and making dedicated lanes ups the cost immensely.  However, I think JTA will give this a hard look before they pay for commuter rail.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Maybe we could add it to Monster Jam.

[thelakelander]

Wow, I didn't know something as simple as rail is despised to this degree. That thing is insane.

[Lunican]

Yeah, this is a terrible idea and completely infeasible. What problem does it solve?

[CS Foltz]

Well.......it might work in China? I would have to see it work first!

[ChriswUfGator]

I don't think this thing will ever work.  There's no way this could ever function on a conventional bus route, and making dedicated lanes ups the cost immensely.  However, I think JTA will give this a hard look before they pay for commuter rail.

JTA would rather hire Christine O'Donnell to cast a traffic reduction spell every day at 5 o'clock, before they'd actually get serious about spending any money on rail. They are threatened by it for some reason.

[billy]

Flags of all Nations!

(bonus points for anyone who gets the movie I am referencing.)

[billy]

Is this the same Song Youzhou who invented the Aerosol Condom, Cat Diapers
and the Billfold Brunch (small sandwiches and crepes designed to fit in your wallet)?


PS: How do you exit?

[billy]

I saw this in the latest issue of Sechuan Journal of Popular Science for the Deranged, along with the Human Centipede Commuter Train in Kyoto.....

[Singejoufflue]

This, for some reason, reminds me of the Catbus in My Neighbor Totoro. 

[wsansewjs]

Won't work. Just remember you heard that here first.

First time someone try's to make a left turn under that thing...
First time someone try's to enter the road as it approaches...
First time some driver panic's and hit's the wall...
First time someone has a fender bender which sends someone into the wall...
First time someone driving this monster misjudges the height of the pickup camper, UPS van etc. in front...
First time someone on the corner is swept away by the sweeping turn...

ZEPPELIN'S OPERATED BY DRUG CRAZED PYGMY'S WILL SUCCEED FIRST...
NOW I REALLY NEED THAT DOCTOR APPOINTMENT!

OCKLAWAHA

I just completely BURST into laughter after reading Ocklawaha's post. Oh how irony! -catches breaths-

-Josh

[billy]

overpasses?