Afrotumbling

HB VW bus day on the pier

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Bus banner with A Dark Knight Rises billboard in the background

Shanghai is rolling out a new kind of public bus — one that’s designed by commuters, and launched only when enough riders request it. Branded “DZ” for dingzhi, or “customized,” the system invites residents to submit proposed routes through a city-run platform. Others with similar travel needs can opt in or vote, and if demand meets the threshold — typically 15 to 20 passengers per trip — the route goes live. More than 220 DZ routes have already launched across all 16 city districts. Through an online platform opened May 8, users enter start and end points, preferred times, and trip frequency. If approved, routes can begin running in as little as three days.

All this was paid for by a 1% increase in utility taxes and increasing downtown parking costs from $1 to $2. So far the program has been a resounding success and is being renewed for an additional year.

📷 Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce