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New York Times Misses the Bus in Guangzhou

21 Apr 2009

Posted In: Guangzhou BRT, Developing High-Quality, Low-Cost Mass Transit, China

On March 27, the New York Times published an article by Keith Bradsher (“Clash of Subways and Car Culture in Chinese Cities”) on the growing car ownership in China and how mass transit is struggling to keep up with the demand for and the status of cars. Focusing on the subway in Guangzhou, Bradsher’s article does a good job of illustrating the intense pace at which new transportation developments are forging ahead, but neglects to mention that the transit line carrying the most passengers per hour per direction will be a bus rapid transit line.

Guangzhou will have more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) of mostly-underground metro by late 2010. Yet the highest capacity mass transit line in terms of peak passenger flows will not be a subway, but rather the first line of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, currently under construction.


The BRT system is under construction, with these pedestrian overpasses connecting the sidewalks to the stations in the median of the road.  Photo: Walter Hook

At $6 million per kilometer (about $9.7 million per mile), Guangzhou’s BRT system is ten times cheaper than the subway, and includes tunnels connecting BRT and subway stations.  Passenger flows of more than double any other BRT system in Asia are projected upon opening in early 2010.

Since over 75% of all public transport trips will continue to be by bus even when 300 kilometers (186 miles) of subway are built, subways alone are not enough. What is required is a citywide coverage of subway, BRT, and regular buses, with bicycles and walking as the key access modes to an integrated mass transit system.

For more information on the Guangzhou BRT system, please see:
Guangzhou BRT Construction Begins
Guangzhou BRT (in English)
Guangzhou BRT (in Chinese)