NPR

China's Elevated Bus Project Seemed Too Good To Be True — And It Was

Project promoters claimed the giant, elevated vehicle would beat traffic jams by straddling traffic. Last week, they were arrested for fraud. "The idea was absurd, childish," says a longtime critic.
Qinhuangdao's elevated bus, seen last month in this photo, will not move forward. The municipal government denied it had endorsed the project, and last month began dismantling the test site.

In China, a futuristic new kind of urban transport that its promoters claimed would beat traffic jams appears to have gone off the rails. That became clear when police arrested the people behind the project for suspected fraud last week.

Dubbed the Transit Elevated Bus, the vehicle looks a

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
From Pandemic To Protests, The Class Of 2024 Has Been Through A Lot
Pomp and circumstance again fall victim to circumstance for some students in the graduating class of 2024, as protests over the war in Gaza threaten to disrupt commencement ceremonies.
NPR3 min read
What's Making Us Happy: A Guide To Your Weekend Viewing And Reading
Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them joy. This week: Vanderpump Rules recaps, the book The Worst Ronin, and a duet by Pavarotti and Celine Dion.
NPR2 min read
Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys Is Being Placed Under A Legal Conservatorship
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved the conservatorship Thursday, noting that Brian Wilson suffers from "a major cognitive disorder." Wilson has agreed to the conservatorship.

Related Books & Audiobooks