“Straddling” bus–a cheaper, greener and faster alternative to commute
July 31st, 2010 by Annie Lee

http://www.chinahush.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/34677070.jpg

A big concern on top of urban transportation planner’s mind is how to speed up the traffic: putting more buses on the road will jam the roads even worse and deteriorate the air; building more subway is costly and time consuming. Well, here is an cheaper, greener and fast alternative to lighten their mind up a bit: the straddling bus, first exhibited on the 13th Beijing International High-tech Expo in May this year. In the near future, the model is to be put into pilot use in Beijing’s Mentougou District (bjnews). (The official site of the high-tech expo put it as 3D fast bus, which I think is more confusing, for now I’ll just call it the straddling bus.)

http://www.chinahush.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11.jpg

Proposed by Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd, the model looks like a subway or light-rail train bestriding the road. It is 4-4.5 m high with two levels: passengers board on the upper level while other vehicles lower than 2 m can go through under. Powered by electricity and solar energy, the bus can speed up to 60 km/h carrying 1200-1400 passengers at a time without blocking other vehicles’ way. Also it costs about 500 million yuan to build the bus and a 40-km-long path for it, only 10% of building equivalent subway. It is said that the bus can reduce traffic jams by 20-30%.

Here is the presentation by Song Youzhou, chairman of Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd.

Translation:

What you can see from the video is traffic jams, what you can hear is noise, and there is also invisible air pollution. At present, there are mainly 4 types of public transits in China: subway, light-rail train, BRT, and normal bus. They have advantages and disadvantages, for example, subway costs a lot and takes long time to build; BRT takes up road spaces and produces noises as well as pollution to the air. How to develop environmental-friendly public transportation? Straddling bus provides a solution. Let’s watch a demonstration.

The straddling bus combines the advantages of BRT, it is also a substitution for BRT and subway in the future. As you all know, the majority vehicle on the road is car, the shortest vehicle is also car. Normally our overpass is 4.5-5.5 m high. The highlight innovation of straddling bus is that it runs above car and under overpass. Its biggest strength is saving road spaces, efficient and high in capacity. It can reduce up to 25-30% traffic jams on main routes. Running at an average 40 km/h, it can take 1200 people at a time, which means 300 passengers per cart.

Another strength of straddling bus is its short construction life cycle: only 1 year to build 40 km. Whereas building 40-km subway will take 3 years at best. Also the straddling bus will not need the large parking lot that normal buses demand. It can park at its own stop without affecting the passage of cars. This is what the interior looks like: it has huge skylight that will eliminate passengers’ sense of depression when enter.

There are two parts in building the straddling bus. One is remodeling the road, the other is building station platforms. Two ways to remodel the road: we can go with laying rails on both sides of car lane, which save 30% energy; or we can paint two white lines on both sides and use auto-pilot technology in the bus, which will follow the lines and run stable.

There are also two ways in dealing with station platform. One is to load/unload through the sides; the other is using the built-in ladder so that passengers can go up and to the overpass through the ceiling door.

Straddling bus is completely powered by municipal electricity and solar energy system. In terms of electricity, the setting is called relay direct current electrification. The bus itself is electrical conductor, two rails built on top to allow the charging post to run along with the bus, the next charging post will be on the rails before the earlier one leaves, that is why we call it relay charging. It is new invention, not available yet in other places.

The set here is super capacitor, a device that can charge, discharge and store electricity quickly. The power it stores during the stop can support the bus till the next stop where another round of charging takes place, achieving zero toxic gas throughout the process.

About the ultrasonic waves put forth from the end of the bus, that is to keep those high cars or trucks away from entering the tunnel. Using laser ray to scan, cars get too close to the passage will activate the alarm on the bus end. Inside the bus, there are turning lights that indicate a the bus is intending to make a turn to warn the cars inside. Also radar scanning system is embedded on the walls to warn cars from getting too close to the bus wheels.

Nowadays many big cities have remodeled their traffic signaling system, to prioritize public buses, that is to say when a bus reaches a crossing, red light on the other side of the fork will turn on automatically to give buses the right of way. Our straddling bus can learn from this BRT method. The car can make the turn with the bus if that is the direction it wants to go too; if not, the red light will be on to stop the cars beneath while the bus take the turn.

The bus is 6 m in width and 4-4.5 m high. How will people get off the bus if an accident happens to such a huge bus? Here I introduce the most advanced escaping system in the world. In the case of fire or other emergencies, the escaping door will open automatically. I believe many of you have been on a plane. Planes are equipped with inflated ladder so people can slide down on it in emergency. I put the escaping concept into the straddling bus. It is the fastest way to escape.

The bus can save up to 860 ton of fuel per year, reducing 2,640 ton of carbon emission. Presently we have passed the first stage demonstration and will get through all of the technical invalidation by the end of August. Beijing’s Mentougou District is carrying out a eco-community project, it has already planned out 186 km for our straddling bus. Construction will begin at year end.

Thank you.

PS: There's a streaming video in the original sites but I can't attach it here nor found the video link. It also hasn't available in YouTube yet.

http://www.chinahush.com/2010/07/31/straddling-bus-a-cheaper-greener-and-faster-alternative-to-commute/

Thanks to CoCoMilk who found it first.

It will build in Beijing’s Mentougou District, construction will begin at end of this year.

My personal opinion, I think this is better than BRT. Too bad some cities in China already spend a lot of money on BRT.

Thanks to CoCoMilk who found it first.

It will build in Beijing’s Mentougou District, construction will begin at end of this year.

My personal opinion, I think this is better than BRT. Too bad some cities in China already spend a lot of money on BRT.

This is by far the sickest thing I have ever seen! I don't think it will replace the subway because it needs to stop for red lights, but it definitely serves as an amazing complement. Chinese subway stations are very far apart and has mediocre coverage at best. The straddling bus would serve as a great way to plug in the gaps. Furthermore, purpose built highways can be erected, which would double as a freeway for cars...

This is by far the coolest, most innovative thing to come out of China to date!

I think this idea isnt good. BRT would be much cheaper and would teach ppl not to use that much their own car.

and i also think that there are better ideac coming out from China:

The train that never stops at a station
A brilliant new Chinese train innovation - get on & off the bullet train without the train stopping. VERY COOL CONCEPT !

No time is wasted. The bullet train is moving all the time. If there are 30 stations between Beijing and Guangzhou , just stopping and accelerating again at each station will waste both energy and time.

A mere 5 min stop per station (elderly passengers cannot be hurried) will result in a total loss of 5 min x 30 stations or 2.5 hours of train journey time!


How it works (view the movie - in mandarin though!):
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1. For those who are boarding the train : The passengers at a station embarks onto to a connector cabin way before the train even arrives at the station. When the train arrives, it will not stop at all. It just slows down to pick up the connector cabin which will move with the train on the roof of the train.

While the train is still moving away from the station, those passengers will board the train from the connector cabin mounted on the train's roof. After fully unloading all its passengers, the cabin connector cabin will be moved to the back of the train so that the next batch of outgoing passengers who want to alight at the next station will board the connector cabin at the rear of the train roof.

2. For those who are getting off: As stated after fully unloading all its passengers, the cabin connector cabin will be moved to the back of the train so that the next batch of outgoing passengers who want to alight at the next station will board the connector cabin at the rear of the train roof. When the train arrives at the next station, it will simply drop the whole connector cabin at the station itself and leave it behind at the station. The outgoing passengers can take their own time to disembark at the station while the train had already left. At the same time, the train will pick up the incoming embarking passengers on another connector cabin in the front part of the train's roof. So the train will always drop one connector cabin at the rear of its roof and pick up a new connector cabin in the front part of the train's roof at each station.

Posted by Frozen Fire at 10:49 PM

http://softhunder.blogspot.com/2010/04/train-that-never-stops-at-station.html

I think this idea isnt good. BRT would be much cheaper and would teach ppl not to use that much their own car.

and i also think that there are better ideac coming out from China:

Well The train that never stops at a station is good too but personally i think “Straddling” bus is a better transportation system than BRT ATM, at least for the Chinese.

You quote Celebriton's other article? without any noticeable directions to the reader, it would easily confused the readers into thinking these two different articles are talking about the same thing. Anywayz

VIDEO FOR THIS ARTICLE IS HERE
(in Mandarin)

http://www.umiwi.com/video/detail1541


^^^^^^^^^^

This is one of the most innovative solutions to ease traffic. These could well be how buses will run in future.

I believe Straddling Bus is better than BRT because:

Unlike BRT, Straddling Bus doesn't need to take one or two lines from the road.

It can also ease the traffic by eliminating public buses from the road. The road will be 100% for private car.

It use electricity just like Subway, no polution.

It has bigger size for more passangers in rush hour.

It can also be implemeted in city who has narrow street like in HK and Tokyo.

It's cheap, as cheap as BRT. Very suitable for third world country who don't have a lot of money.

It can also build fast, far faster than Subway and elevated LRT.

etc. (I haven't figure it out)

It can also build fast, far faster than Subway and elevated LRT.

Quote:

Another strength of straddling bus is its short construction life cycle: only 1 year to build 40 km. Whereas building 40-km subway will take 3 years at best. Also the straddling bus will not need the large parking lot that normal buses demand. It can park at its own stop without affecting the passage of cars. This is what the interior looks like: it has huge skylight that will eliminate passengers’ sense of depression when enter.

That's a great idea... if it works. The problem that may come up is people's driving habits. I've notice people tend to slow down when even approaching a tunnel that has five lanes. Like they're afraid they're not going to fit. Just imagine what would happen if the tunnel were moving. Also some countries and in some individual cities, there's people who ignore marked traffic lanes. So even in traffic this bus maybe design to skirt street traffic but if someone is trying squeeze into another lane during traffic, this bus is stopped too. The big success to this would be if this becomes the preferred mode of transportation and thus the number of cars on the road would drop significantly.

Good idea in theory, but given the way Chinese people drive, you can't expect a very long lifespan for those buses. :lol:

Are they truly constructing this? It looks amazing.

In principle the idea is wonderful, but I can't see this working in reality. It relies on the presumption that everyone is a great driver.

Imagine the distraction of one of these appearing over you whilst driving on a highway, just a short shock and a swerve to the left or right could cause a horrific accident. It's also easy to presume everyone will expect one of these things to go over you, but there will be plenty of people who are new to the city and will not expect this.

It is also presuming that the driver of the bus itself does a perfect job every time.

I saw how trucks are supposed to be warned to move out of the way, but we still have trucks driving into stationary bridges, imagine the horrific accidents that could happen here if the truck drivers make the wrong decision.

I really just can't see these things working without killing people.

In principle the idea is wonderful, but I can't see this working in reality. It relies on the presumption that everyone is a great driver.

Imagine the distraction of one of these appearing over you whilst driving on a highway, just a short shock and a swerve to the left or right could cause a horrific accident. It's also easy to presume everyone will expect one of these things to go over you, but there will be plenty of people who are new to the city and will not expect this.

It is also presuming that the driver of the bus itself does a perfect job every time.

I saw how trucks are supposed to be warned to move out of the way, but we still have trucks driving into stationary bridges, imagine the horrific accidents that could happen here if the truck drivers make the wrong decision.

I really just can't see these things working without killing people.

I had those exact same concerns too at first but if you think about it, the dangers that this poses are not that much different than what the light rail poses. Both are extremely massive compared to cars and are guided so they pose the same threat. I feel that if light rail can work (real light rail system like they have in Changchun or tram in Dalian, not the fake heavy elevated rail that Chinese people call light rail) in China, then there's no reason to expect this to not work

They would start to rethink about it, when it kills people.

That is only :crazy:
But... how about reopen the Chinese transit compilation and merge this thread and Hefei and Wuxi metros threads with that thread? The compilation would be only for lesser known cities.

I had those exact same concerns too at first but if you think about it, the dangers that this poses are not that much different than what the light rail poses. Both are extremely massive compared to cars and are guided so they pose the same threat. I feel that if light rail can work (real light rail system like they have in Changchun or tram in Dalian, not the fake heavy elevated rail that Chinese people call light rail) in China, then there's no reason to expect this to not work

It is a good point what you say, but I still feel it is quite different. By light rail, I assume you are referring to trams which share a street with automobiles. In this case, the tram is not much different to a bus, driving alongside, in front or behind a vehicle. It is different in that in the case of an emergency, it can not turn to avoid collision. However, it is vastly different having a tram to the side of your vehicle than being completey encased in a moving vehicle.

Of course, I am only assuming that this is dangerous, because it sounds and looks dangerous. I could be proven wrong. That said, often in life the obvious is also the true case, and this to me looks pretty risky considering the analogue nature of human drivers.

Whereas building 40-km subway will take 3 years at best.

Best.Quote.Ever.

It's taking Toronto 5 years to build 8km of subway!

I'm not sold on this idea:

- Alignment. The bus does not look like it can turn, so it is limited

- Height. This could also limit where the buses can be used if there are bridges that are too low.

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121540_large.jpg
Straddling buses will be made to fit under city overpasses. Shenzhen Hashi predicts that
each of the vehicles' cabs will carry 300 passengers at a time (up to 1,400 passengers in
all) and will reduce traffic by up to 30% on crowded roads.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121535_large.jpg
A view from under one of the road-straddling buses. Cars less than 2 meters high will be
able to pass underneath these giant buses. A "radar scanning system is embedded on the
walls to warn cars from getting too close to the bus wheels," Song Youzhou, chairman of
Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd., said during a presentation at a tech
expo in May 2010.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121536_large.jpg
When completed, the straddling buses will run on "relay charges" of electricity and solar
power. "The bus itself is electrical conductor," Song Youzhou explained during his presentation
of the project. "[T]wo rails built on top to allow the charging post to run along with the bus,
the next charging post will be on the rails before the earlier one leaves, that is why we call
it relay charging. It is new invention, not available yet in other places."


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121537_large.jpg
Passengers will board the buses at large above-ground loading stations.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121538_large.jpg
The front and rear of the buses will emit ultrasonic waves to keep trucks or too-tall cars
from entering the "tunnel." If an oversize vehicle gets too close to the bus, sensors will
trigger an alarm.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121539_large.jpg
The interior of the buses will resemble current public transit vehicles like city buses and
subway cars. The passengers will enter the vehicles either through sliding side doors or
through an internal staircase that leads to a sliding skylight.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121541_large.jpg
The road-straddling buses will use only 860 tons of fuel per year, Shenzhen Hashi predicts.
This could reduce yearly carbon emissions by 2,640 tons.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121542_large.jpg
Song Youzhou proposed two different types of platforms for the buses: "One is to
load/unload through the sides [of the vehicle]; the other is using the built-in ladder so that
passengers can go up and to the overpass through the [vehicle's] ceiling door."

Interesting idea but why not build an elevated BRT instead?

I don't see the advantage over monorails some of which have very small column footprints.
Also what happens a transport truck wants to go by and especially large fire trucks?

A solution in search of a problem.

This idea seems much better received here than on the Chinese bus forum!

^^It look like the concept of smart advertising placement in commercial work well too, here in the forum. :D


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121539_large.jpg
The interior of the buses will resemble current public transit vehicles like city buses and
subway cars. The passengers will enter the vehicles either through sliding side doors or
through an internal staircase that leads to a sliding skylight.


http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/9151/slide_9151_121542_large.jpg
Song Youzhou proposed two different types of platforms for the buses: "One is to
load/unload through the sides [of the vehicle]; the other is using the built-in ladder so that
passengers can go up and to the overpass through the [vehicle's] ceiling door."

I dislike the concept of stair in the middle of the bus, it reduce space for passenger.

Why don't they just build a bus station for the side doors only?

This idea seems much better received here than on the Chinese bus forum!
Maybe because here it was compared to our prices: 70 million $ for ONE bus and 40 km path may seem to be cheap,when you compare it for example to cost of constructing a brand new ligt rail system in France,UK,Spain on Germany.But... but when you take into consideration earnings of chinese workers (who came from villages and work for... you know very well how poor are money they earn) and when you compare it to costs of light rail system BUILT IN CHINA,then it seems cheap no more ;)

I dislike the concept of stair in the middle of the bus, it reduce space for passenger.

Why don't they just build a bus station for the side doors only?

Don't forget accessibility issues - not everyone can use stairs.

It's obvious that this is more of a conceptual solution rather than something that can actually work in reality. I still can't imagine how this thing can even turn.

This is one of the silliest things I've seen in years! The idea seems good if not brilliant, but I doubt that motorists will ever be ready for such a "moving tunnel". Heck, I know people who have difficulty driving through solid tunnels.

Nevertheless, I'd love to see this in action!

Lots naysayers here...

In all seriousness, advancement in technology requires boldness. They are building in a new district in Beijing, if the test goes well..then i can see other CN cities adopting it.

^^ Has any of your guys ever watched the video? I guess you can be pardoned for not understanding Chinese. The boss of the firm that is going to build the bus explained in his presentation:

A) issues about turning at intersections, prevention mechanisms against cars crashing into the walls of the bus, how the bus gets its energy etc. etc. most of what you are concerned with, was addressed in the video. He said at the end of the video that a technical feasibility study has been successfully concluded in August.

B) He then announced that a district of the city Beijing has planned to incorporate infrastructure for the straddling bus on a 186km long road, with construction beginning at the end of this year.

The project is much further along than you guys are apparently aware.

It looks a tad ridiculous, but if it works, I'm all for it going international. I mean, if it's space-saving and efficient, then why not? The only things I'm concerned about is how two lines will intersect and the acceleration/deceleration rates, which would seem fairly slow for such a bulky thing like it and the turning - how flexible can this thing get unless it has articulations every meter?

I would really like to see the stations for this thing incorporated into overpasses and such. I'm not really digging the stairway upward because it wastes standing space and would let a lot of air-conditioning out of the bus when the roof opens up; just more doors would be better.

guys check out the video in English. Many thanks to the translator.

looks like a brilliant idea as long as it can defend itself from the reckless drivers.

Hv8_W2PA0rQ

First of all, i think this is a great idea and worth the investment but still want to see first couple of operational years to see how efficient it will be compared to monorail.

All visuals show the thing on a straight road, with no intersection.

Questions:
- How does the thing works on a road intersection?
- How does it turn without entrapping the cars below?

When is it going to be completed? The video says they are starting work on it already this year.

All visuals show the thing on a straight road, with no intersection.

Questions:
- How does the thing works on a road intersection?
- How does it turn without entrapping the cars below?

I suggest rewatching the video.

I suggest rewatching the video.You mean the one where cars magically stop to let the thing turns on the right?

Well, it indeed seems to work well on a 3D rendering but it doesn't really seem practicle in real life. I hardly see how movements could be that fluid in the middle of a heavy traffic jam.

Another example is about trucks. They are supposed to turn on another lane if they would like to overtake the straddling bus. Good. But what about trucks which would be stopped in traffic ahead of the straddling bus?

According to the video:

The traffic signaling system for straddling bus can be adapted from the BRT signaling system. The cars under the straddling bus stop because of the red light.

There are height restriction bars prohibiting trucks/high-clearance vehicles from running in the straddling bus lane.

You mean the one where cars magically stop to let the thing turns on the right?

Well, it indeed seems to work well on a 3D rendering but it doesn't really seem practicle in real life. I hardly see how movements could be that fluid in the middle of a heavy traffic jam.

Another example is about trucks. They are supposed to turn on another lane if they would like to overtake the straddling bus. Good. But what about trucks which would be stopped in traffic ahead of the straddling bus?

^^ good point. The whole point of this is to avoid congested roads, which means there are congested roads already. And if you have a truck that can't pass that vehicle, it can't easily change lanes if the road is congested can it?

If they can have special signals (stop all traffic at an intersection except for the straddling bus, so it can turn), then I think that would be a good solution. Otherwise, this thing just screams "pileup".

To make the thing really safe, I don't believe it could really run faster than traffic. Ther risk is too important of a car stuck on the rail or any other things to make it goes really fast. It would still be faster than bus though, but not necessarily faster than bus or trams separated from traffic.

I guess cars which would drive below the thing would slow down to let it go as I don't believe people driving below it will feel particularly safe.

All in all, it's a nice idea, and I'm interested to see how the thing will be tested in China, but saying it makes metro technology outdated seems a lot exagerated to me.

I think you are right. We need to see if it works and how safe and comfortable it is. Even if it works people have to get used to this thing. It is too early to draw a conclusion.

Also I doubt that it can replace metro, especially in cities with 10 million+ residents. It might be a cheaper alternative in some cases, and it might be better than BRT--many Chinese cities already have or start building BRTs, so if this will work, maybe they'll consider replacing BRT with it.

To make the thing really safe, I don't believe it could really run faster than traffic. Ther risk is too important of a car stuck on the rail or any other things to make it goes really fast. It would still be faster than bus though, but not necessarily faster than bus or trams separated from traffic.

I guess cars which would drive below the thing would slow down to let it go as I don't believe people driving below it will feel particularly safe.

All in all, it's a nice idea, and I'm interested to see how the thing will be tested in China, but saying it makes metro technology outdated seems a lot exagerated to me.

You mean the one where cars magically stop to let the thing turns on the right?

Well, it indeed seems to work well on a 3D rendering but it doesn't really seem practicle in real life. I hardly see how movements could be that fluid in the middle of a heavy traffic jam.

Another example is about trucks. They are supposed to turn on another lane if they would like to overtake the straddling bus. Good. But what about trucks which would be stopped in traffic ahead of the straddling bus?


I guess you need to have another look to the video.... more carefully..

Everything you wrote addressed in the video. You even dont need to know Chinese.

As a matter of fact, I'm very curious about that system and didn't want to criticize it excessively. So your comments lead me to follow a negative trend I don't really want to adventure in.

Here are some pictures of the Beijing traffic jams:
http://www.licensestream.com/licensestream2/LSCContentStorage/8598/UserComps/idmojocs.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/ftage/ffximage/2008/07/02/camTrafficJam_wideweb__470x314,0.jpg

http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000bPHKoulFlDI/s.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/19/article-0-005C9BC400000578-534_468x324.jpg

Here's a thought

What about an overcrowded rail line, where there is no room to add new tracks to the side? Could such a vehicle be a solution to this?

As a matter of fact, I'm very curious about that system and didn't want to criticize it excessively. So your comments lead me to follow a negative trend I don't really want to adventure in.

Here are some pictures of the Beijing traffic jams:
http://www.licensestream.com/licensestream2/LSCContentStorage/8598/UserComps/idmojocs.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/ftage/ffximage/2008/07/02/camTrafficJam_wideweb__470x314,0.jpg

http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000bPHKoulFlDI/s.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/19/article-0-005C9BC400000578-534_468x324.jpg

By that logic how does traffic move at all in China? So why do people bother to drive? It must get them somewhere faster since they do it.

This concept looks pretty much insane. But if it should work efficiently, safe and cost efficient I may change my mind. Other posters above mentioned critical aspects already however.

What about trucks stuck in traffic? How well can it really manage curves and crossings without putting the cars below it at risk while being able to move fluently? What about energy efficiency? These things look pretty massive, after all they have to be when they are supposed to hover above car traffic. The mass they have to move has to be certainly much more than in all the other modes of public transport. And last but not least, I don't know China well enough, but in Europe a PT system which is limited to highways and highway like major roads would miss most of the locations interesting for potential riders.

As far as I know, they are building this system in newly developing district so all the transport and road system will be compatible with it. Moreover what i understood from the video, most of the time taller vehicles like trucks should not and cannot enter those two lanes where this vehicle is moving. there are hight restrictions forced by physical blockers.

Also, yes people should follow the rules in order to this thing to work, especially red light :D if they dont what can one do, it is dangerous and illegal anyway.

Moreover, keep in mind this is something to replace buses not subway. My bet it will be better than buses for sure. better than monorail? we will see.

If this system is limited to large scale streets or highways the stops likelywise won't be close to the places people are heading for. That means it will need bus connectors from their stations to the places where the people really want to get to.

This is a bit awkward however as the straddling bus is not considered a subway replacement but more comparable to bus as you have said.

But having that said, I encourage them to build a prototype track and see how it works out and at what price. We'll see then based on practical experience what the system is worth.

PS:
I think one of the basic problems China is facing is that its embracing far too much of the 60ies and 70ies US style urban traffic strategies at least when it comes to road infrastructure and separation of use. It woul be wel advised to create their fast expanding cities to more recent strategies which force people into substantially less car dependability. Building PT is not enough for that, cities have to be built around PT as well and functions have to be mixed to ensure a more even usage of the PT.

Heard that this new technology is under construction in some place Beijing, anyone can verify it by some photo?