China’s elevated bus has been permanently grounded.
Construction on the much-hyped futuristic form of public transport in China has been halted after the project was revealed to be a scam. Criminal charges and lawsuits have been filed as a result.
The Transit Elevated Bus, a Catamaran-like trolley that allowed cars to drive underneath, was billed as a solution to traffic congestion in Chinese cities. The 300-passenger bus stretched over two lanes of traffic, but those designs now seem too good to be true. Suspicions mounted as the project was repeatedly delayed.
NPR reports police arrested Bai Zhiming, the entrepreneur behind the concept, and 31 employees at his company last week on suspicion of fraud. His company received more than $500 million from investors for the project. At least 72 people have filed a lawsuit, according to Quartz.
After the design was unveiled in 2010, the Transit Elevated Bus generated significant interest. Five Chinese cities reportedly signed contracts to serve as pilot projects. Time even named it one of “The 50 Best Inventions of 2010.”
Tracks for the Transit Elevated Bus have already been ripped up in Qinhuangdao, where test runs were conducted in August 2016.
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