Video Of The Week — Futuristic Elevated Bus Begins Test Runs In China

Earlier this year, a team of engineers led by China’s Song Youzhou suggested that a massive elevated bus that straddled over normal-sized vehicles was the key to easing the world’s traffic woes. Though the concept of the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) unveiled at the 19^th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo on May 22 generated a lot of excitement, most people were skeptical that it would ever become a reality. But they were wrong.

On August 4, a working prototype of the futuristic-looking vehicle went for a short test spin in Qinhuangdao, a seaside city in northern China. Measuring 72-feet long and 26-feet wide the giant bus was straddled 16-feet above the ground, enabling the two vehicles nestled side-by-side to drive through easily.

There are still numerous safety and other tests that need to be conducted to prepare the TEB for a real trial on the busy streets of China. But Youzhou, says this successful short test run is proof that his idea of building the revolutionary, environmentally-friendly form of public transport is possible!

Resources: newchina.com, wired.com