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posted by
janrinok
on Thursday August 04 2016, @09:51PM
from the don't-knock-it-till-you've-tried-it dept.
from the don't-knock-it-till-you've-tried-it dept.
previously: Straddle Bus 'Eats' Cars As it Speeds Down the Highway
Shanghaiist reports that an example of the TEB-1 (Transit Elevated Bus) has been built and has been tested on a 300 m track. The bus is of an unusual design: 7.8 m wide, its wheels rest both sides of a road, with the main part of the body high above street level so that other traffic can pass beneath. It is electrically powered. Passengers enter and leave via raised platforms. Its capacity is variously reported as 300 or 1200 passengers.
additional coverage:
- TechCrunch
- official news agency Xinhua
- Washington Post
- video by Descubre tu Mundo
- video by ELive Now
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Can anyone remember when the times were not hard, and money not scarce?
(Score: 3, Informative) by butthurt on Thursday August 04 2016, @11:08PM
> overhanging street lights, traffic signals, wires
On a route traversed by tractor-trailers or double-decker buses, low-hanging obstacles may already have been dealt with, I imagine. If not, the cost of making them may be weighed against the costs or disadvantages of alternatives.
> tall tractor-trailers
The advantage of the TEB-1 is hoped to have, apparently, is that it won't block other traffic. If there's a tractor-trailer waiting behind it, that advantage lessens. Drivers of tractor-trailers could be asked to take alternate routes, or to operate at off-peak hours.
> double decker buses
I doubt there's enough clearance for any bus to pass underneath the TEB. However the TEB could replace some other buses, which would mitigate the problem.
> fire trucks
We certainly don't want to keep those waiting. However, according to the earlier story the TEB is supposedly capable of travelling at 60 km per hour. One solution would be for the TEB to travel at maximum speed, ahead of emergency vehicles. When there is other traffic that those vehicles must avoid, the TEB might not be be much of an impediment. Another solution would be for tall emergency vehicles to use alternate routes.
> over-passes
Rebuilding overpasses is certainly costly. However if widening a road or tunnelling beneath it are under consideration as alternatives, the TEB may be economic.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday August 04 2016, @11:27PM
I looked at some of the pictures on line of this thing.
If you have a perfectly homogeneous traffic flow, composed of compact cars, it might work.
Mount a bicycle on a roof rack? Maybe not.
Your typical freeway has has about 15 feet of clearance, and the regulations say anything less than 14 feet has to provide advance warning for the truckers. Who know's what China's regs say. But clearly these TEBs are not going to work with current mixed traffic flow in most places.
Googling up some images of traffic in china seems to suggest a much more uniform mix of vehicles. Still there are more than a few buses and trucks.
The whole problem goes away by just giving the TEB taller legs, (20 foot of clearance) and mounting lights and traffic signs between 15 to 20 feet.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Pslytely Psycho on Friday August 05 2016, @01:00PM
Just FYI, the Interstates in the U.S. have a minimum height requirement of 16ft (4.9m). Anything less has to be marked. Some states such as VA, have more stringent requirements, where it is 17ft (5.2m). In Texas, they like their interstates TALL! I mean crazy clearances tall, and they like to let you know. In DFW there are bridges marked with warnings that they are only 25ft! They don't do no metric shit there man.
*Old Freigtshaker pilot.
Back on topic:
It seems to me that once the figure out the route for this, they would just restrict taller vehicles from the roads they operate on. Any thing that still required a large truck could still be done during non-operational hours, I'm assuming of course, that it would not operate 24 hours a day. Many times over the years I saw my routes change and areas I was once free to drive in restricted either wholeheartedly or during certain times of the day due to infrastructure changes.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday August 05 2016, @04:52PM
Its pretty clear this thing will require special custom built highways with hardened shoulders, car exclusion barriers, pedestrian fencing, etc.
So given that, its no different than any other mass transit project down freeway corridors. It will be disruptive, require massive rebuilds, total redesigns of on and off ramps etc. And in the end it is only suitable for short distance runs, in reciprocating service (to the airport and back, and only one vehicle at a time).
In short its destined to be another Seattle Monorail; a specialized one time installation, never to be repeated, extended, and maybe used as a tourist trap. (Seattle built an extensive surface lite-rail system and still runs the monorail as a tourist destination).
Meanwhile a rail link down the center median, (elevated or not) can and has been implemented all over the world, for far less money, and far less disruption, and can operate trains (in both directions) without impact to all other highway transport modes.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Saturday August 06 2016, @11:19AM
Ah, yes, the Monorail.
As many times as I have been to Seattle (I live on the other side of the state, Spokane) I have never ridden it, but I certainly remember the spectacular promises that were supposed to be realized by it. And the dismal failure it became...
Yeah, I realize the complexity and chaos any large construction project can be. I have traveled every major road to every major city in the country, as well as thousands of minor roads and towns. Chicago rebuilt its major freeway through the city, L.A. added some rail service, NYC is always under construction. Reroutes, both temporary and permanent, are a fact of life for large vehicle operators. In that aspect only, large traffic will be the least of their concerns, as it's just a fact of life to the drivers.
Chicago has a lot of train median train links, and expansions of the that system are less disruptive than many other rail expansions I had to route around (L.A. I'm lookin' at you!). Of course, being that it's the Chinese, they may just insanely expand it just to say they did it, regardless of how disruptive or popular it is. If Seattle's monorail had been built in Beijing, it would likely of been constructed across the entire city. Who knows, they might just pull this off, it went from concept to working model in quite short order. They should try the Hyperloop! Bet they'd have a working one in a decade!
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Saturday August 06 2016, @11:22AM
"train median train links,"
Honestly, I did preview.
Unfortunately, I ran by the weed store on my way home.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.