Difference between revisions of "File:0713POTM JamieLei.jpg"
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| + | "I'm going to submit one, but I think it's important to understand the context behind it, rather than just think 'blurry photo' |
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| + | Speeding Red Public Light Bus in Hong Kong |
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| + | Red Public Light Buses play an important part of the transport system in Hong Kong, bridging the gap between bus and taxi. Operated exclusively with Toyota Coasters (16 seats) and without pre-determined routes with only the vaguest route sign on the front (this one said 'Sai Kung' to 'Mong Kok'), they are free to be flagged down by anybody anywhere, and to set passengers down anywhere as long as it's in the same general direction. This one cost HK$15 (£1.25) for the full length of the 18km journey (and luckily did not stop at all en-route), something that would have otherwise cost over HK$100 in a true taxi for exactly the same speed (albeit more comfortable) journey. In the economically developed world, they truly are an oddity, yet an essential mode of transport. |
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| + | Obviously, with a taxi mentality and to cram in as many trips as possible, in recent years, speeding Red Public Light Buses have become quite a concern. All buses are now fitted with internal speedometers for the benefit of passengers that audibly bleep and flash when the bus tops the legal limit of 80kph (50mph), hence the compromise. It's almost impossible to describe how shaky these things are at high speed - imagine the scariest roller coaster you've been on, throwing you left and right without warning, and then apply it to a road situation, flying 3 lanes left to take a highway exit, then stopping without warning because the driver's spotted someone who's flagged them down or to weave around a double-decker bus. They're supposed to have seat belts, but I couldn't find one. Thus the speedometer was supposed to slow drivers down, in addition to the 80kph speed limiter, but the general consensus is that it does little to stop speeding and even discourages drivers from going slow. |
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| + | In such conditions obviously, it's impossible to take a decent photo. Nonetheless, I hope the shakeyness of it shows just what harrowing conditions a Public Light Bus caught at an illegal 81kph is like!" - http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?p=1089307#p1089307 |
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Latest revision as of 04:39, 8 August 2013
"I'm going to submit one, but I think it's important to understand the context behind it, rather than just think 'blurry photo'
Speeding Red Public Light Bus in Hong Kong
Red Public Light Buses play an important part of the transport system in Hong Kong, bridging the gap between bus and taxi. Operated exclusively with Toyota Coasters (16 seats) and without pre-determined routes with only the vaguest route sign on the front (this one said 'Sai Kung' to 'Mong Kok'), they are free to be flagged down by anybody anywhere, and to set passengers down anywhere as long as it's in the same general direction. This one cost HK$15 (£1.25) for the full length of the 18km journey (and luckily did not stop at all en-route), something that would have otherwise cost over HK$100 in a true taxi for exactly the same speed (albeit more comfortable) journey. In the economically developed world, they truly are an oddity, yet an essential mode of transport.
Obviously, with a taxi mentality and to cram in as many trips as possible, in recent years, speeding Red Public Light Buses have become quite a concern. All buses are now fitted with internal speedometers for the benefit of passengers that audibly bleep and flash when the bus tops the legal limit of 80kph (50mph), hence the compromise. It's almost impossible to describe how shaky these things are at high speed - imagine the scariest roller coaster you've been on, throwing you left and right without warning, and then apply it to a road situation, flying 3 lanes left to take a highway exit, then stopping without warning because the driver's spotted someone who's flagged them down or to weave around a double-decker bus. They're supposed to have seat belts, but I couldn't find one. Thus the speedometer was supposed to slow drivers down, in addition to the 80kph speed limiter, but the general consensus is that it does little to stop speeding and even discourages drivers from going slow.
In such conditions obviously, it's impossible to take a decent photo. Nonetheless, I hope the shakeyness of it shows just what harrowing conditions a Public Light Bus caught at an illegal 81kph is like!" - http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?p=1089307#p1089307
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