Passengers vote to choose where the bus will go (5 photos)

Guess the country by the news. When it comes to technological innovations based on the fact that everyone has a smartphone and access to the Internet, then this is definitely…





What a beautiful bus this experimental one is

Yes, it's China. Shanghai is launching a new type of public bus - one designed by passengers and will only be launched when enough passengers request it. For example, on weekdays everyone will vote for a school, and on weekends on Parents' Day - for a cemetery. The system, called “DZ” (from dingzhi, meaning “individual”), allows residents to submit suggested routes through a city platform. Others with similar route needs can participate, or vote. And if demand reaches a threshold — typically 15 to 20 passengers per ride — the route is launched.



Screenshots of the website with routes up for voting

More than 220 DZ routes have already been launched in all 16 urban districts of Shanghai. Through the online platform, which opened on May 8, users enter their starting and ending points, preferred times, and frequency of rides. One of the first test routes was DZ301, a pilot route linking a major metro station with surrounding residential areas, schools and office buildings.





In general, buses in China look very homely, just like ours

“The average daily passenger flow is 250-260 people - 170-180 during the morning rush and 70-80 in the evening,” said the owner of the bus depot.

The route was created at the request of a resident, submitted in December last year. In response, transit service employees conducted an on-site study, observing pedestrian traffic, talking to passengers and calculating turnaround times during peak hours. Drivers then conducted test runs to adjust the schedule before the official launch of the route.

How much does a bus taxi cost



By the way, I also really like the Chinese moped taxi. Where else can you ride a moped hugging a Chinese person?

The prices are market rates, like in a regular shuttle bus, although there are no discounts for pensioners and other social groups. Here is a compromise between taxis and buses. You can launch a new route to an existing one. Every city resident can go to the Popular Routes tab on the website and not just vote there. You need to book it. Otherwise, a thousand Chinese will ask a thousand of their relatives, and they will launch you there just by voting.



Uneven public transport, everyone in the world suffers from it, the Chinese too

In the future, the bus depot would like everyone to apply for a route in advance, so that it would be immediately clear how many passengers need to be transported. I think it would be incredibly convenient. I want this to be introduced here too.