As a form of mass transit, buses are certainly an eco-friendly option, but the amount of space they take up and the traffic they cause offsets some of those green benefits -- this has spurred China to conduct trials on their elevated buses, the TEB-1s. The elevated buses have existed as concepts for years, but these tests are the first time that they have actually been put to use in practice.
The buses are behemoths: they measure 22 meters long, nearly eight meters wide and crucially, they are nearly six meters high, with nearly half that height devoted to creating a "tunnel" under which regular cars can drive. Though the elevated buses' max speed would only be about 60 km/h, the ability to allow two lanes of traffic underneath them means that their speed won't interrupt the flow of traffic.
Though the trial run was very limited, only taking the TEB-1s across 300 meters of controlled track, the buses could revolutionize transportation once unveiled on city streets.
Traffic-Alleviating Elevated Buses
China's TEB-1 is a Bus That Allows Cars to Pass Underneath It
Trend Themes
1. Elevated Buses - The development and implementation of elevated buses presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the mass transit sector by alleviating traffic congestion and reducing the space consumed by traditional buses.
2. Traffic Alleviation - The use of elevated buses to allow cars to pass underneath them presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in urban transportation by significantly reducing traffic congestion.
3. Smart City Infrastructure - The introduction of elevated buses as a form of mass transit requires the development of smart city infrastructure to accommodate their size and ensure efficient traffic flow.
Industry Implications
1. Transportation - The transportation industry will be impacted by the use of elevated buses, as it presents new opportunities for more efficient and sustainable mass transit solutions.
2. Urban Planning - Urban planners and city officials will need to consider the implementation of elevated buses as part of their strategies to alleviate traffic congestion in densely populated areas.
3. Green Technology - The development of elevated buses as an eco-friendly form of transportation aligns with the green technology industry, opening up opportunities for sustainable infrastructure and mobility solutions.