Kathy & Paul's Adventures Abroad

The Beijing bus system efficiently covers the entire city. The photo below shows Tangli Road. On each side of the centre lanes are sheltered bus stops. To the left are four more lanes and to the right are four lanes for a total of ten lanes. As you can see the mediums between the sets of lanes are very wide. This is so that bus passengers can be let off at this subway stop.

This is a residential area. Note the homes (condos) in the background. it is truly amazing how little litter there is all over the city.

Left background - more homes

In the background a subway station and more homes

Below is Tangli Road. The pedestrian overpass has eight access ramps – six on the north side and two on the south side. Four of the ramps are from the bus drop-off so pedestrians can access the overpass. Crossing Tangli Road on foot is prohibited. I can only guess the number of people transferring from bus to subway and subway to bus in peak rush hour. Again I am struck by the lack of litter.

East end of overpass

Below notice the red brick subway station and enclosed elevated track. Note also the homes in the background.

Northwest side of overpass

This is a single train car with a minimum eight feet wide by fifty or sixty feet long. At full capacity there are hundreds of people per car. There are six cars per train. At Shangdi station I counted three trains in five minutes and there are more in rush hour. There are millions of people moved daily by this system. The bus costs seven cents and the train thirty-five cents. You swipe your pass when you get on and off. This allows the computer to recognize flow pattens and to accurately allocate resources as needed, which means you get a ride when you need it.

Skyline at northeast of overpass and more homes

Skyline to the south

Homes to the southeast

Cool statue in front of a store