‘Straddling bus’ project in China suspected to be an investment scam
Image: Twitter/@TEBtech
The Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) or “straddling bus” was supposed to be one of China’s high-tech solutions for traffic congestion. However, recent police investigations have led to the arrest of 32 individuals, including Bai Zhiming who is the chief executive of the TEB company.
Authorities now suspect the project to be an elaborate investment scam rather than the ambitious transit solution that it was made out to be, according to The Telegraph.
The straddling bus’ feasibility was immediately brought into question after its initial run. It was feared that the prototype would tip over or that it wouldn’t be able to support the weight of 300 passengers. There were also concerns about the bus’ ability to turn corners or fit under bridges.
Others pointed out that there had been little technological development between the unit unveiled in 2010 and the prototype that ran in 2016.
A report on Quartz stated that the tracks where the bus ran on are scheduled to be demolished, as announced by the Qinghuangdao government.
As previously reported, the straddling bus project was initially unveiled in 2010 but was delayed due to lack of funding. It was restarted in 2015 and had its first and last test run on August 2, in Qinhuangdao at north China’s Hebei Province. Alfred Bayle/JB
