Fast Passing, Quick Transfer: Truly Rapid Transit
Yiwu, with a permanent population of over 2 million, faces severe land resource constraints due to its terrain surrounded by mountains on three sides. Given the reality of crowded streets and narrow roads, the transportation link between the main and auxiliary urban areas of Yiwu must be guided and supported by a high-capacity, high-speed backbone bus system. In January 2017, the first new energy rapid transit (BRT) line at the county level in China, Yiwu BRT Line 1, was born.
Few county-level cities have opened BRT routes nationwide, let alone a new energy BRT line like Yiwu's. When Yiwu proposed to open a BRT route within the city in the second half of 2016, there were doubts from the public. "Will the opening of the BRT route occupy part of the lanes and cause traffic congestion?" "Yiwu is a county-level city. Will there be low ridership after the route is opened, resulting in a waste of road resources?"
Facing such pressures, we visited BRT routes in places like Yibin, Sichuan, and Wenzhou, Zhejiang, learning from successful experiences, and collaborated with Tongji University to research site selection actively coordinating with the Yiwu Public Security Department to design dedicated bus lanes. We must make sure that this "rapid transit" line lives up to its name. - said Luo Zijun, Deputy General Manager of Hengfeng Bus Company.
How to speed up this main bus line? Yiwu's answer is "fast passing + quick transfer".
After boarding a BRT Line 1 bus, within less than 10 minutes, the vehicle has passed through three stations and arrived at Yiwu International Trade City Zone 1. Along the dedicated lane, no private vehicles are allowed to enter. "The route adopts median-style platforms, and the dedicated bus lanes are also set up in the middle of the road, reducing the impact of intersections and other social vehicles on bus operations." Zheng Yuelong, Manager of Hengfeng Bus BRT Company, introduced. Currently, the average operating speed of BRT Line 1 exceeds 20 kilometers per hour, more than 50% faster than conventional buses.
Inside the station at Yiwu International Trade City Zone 1, many passengers are waiting to transfer to other routes. Zheng Yuelong explained that Yiwu BRT Line 1 network consists of "1 main with multiple branches", with 22 branch lines introduced into one main bus line. All 15 intermediate stations of BRT Line 1 are free to transfer to BRT branch lines, making each station a transfer hub, enabling passengers to travel conveniently. This not only saves time for re-swiping at the station but also saves passengers money.
With its fast speed and convenient transfer, BRT Line 1 has attracted a large number of passengers. In 2017, BRT Line 1 operated a total of 75,900 trips, with an average daily ridership (including transfers) of 54,000.
Electric Buses Add "Green" to the City
From 2015 to the present, Yiwu has added 44 new bus routes and optimized 62 routes. 434 new or renovated bus stops have been added, and 14 new terminals have been built. As of now, Yiwu has a total of 203 bus routes, 1,557 buses, and 65 bus terminals, with an average daily ridership exceeding 400,000. The city's annual public transportation subsidy reached 410 million yuan in 2018. These figures demonstrate Yiwu's significant investment in urban public transportation.
Yiwu BRT Line 1 spans both the old and new urban areas and is the central thoroughfare of Yiwu, known as the north-south artery of the city.
In January 2017, 55 double-door pure electric buses were officially put into use on Yiwu BRT Line 1. These 12.5-meter-long "big guys" quickly gained popularity within a week with their fashionable and bright appearance, Yiwu's "brown sugar" color design, and spacious interiors.
"I have been in Yiwu for almost 10 years, and this is the fastest and quietest bus I have ever taken." A businessman from Africa told reporters at the BRT platform that his company is located at the Southern Link Station, and he lives near the Longhui Transfer Station. He takes the BRT Line 1 bus to and from work every day. "The BRT route not only has a fast speed but also provides a comfortable ride. The air conditioning on the bus is too cool in the summer." he said.
Not only welcomed by passengers, the environmental characteristics of new energy vehicles also protect Yiwu's "blue skies and white clouds". "Compared with the same length of hybrid buses, the average cost per kilometer for pure electric buses decreases by 1.07 yuan. Compared with diesel buses, the 55 buses on BRT Line 1 can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3,474 tons per year." Wu Zhongqiang, Deputy Director of Yiwu Municipal Transportation Bureau, said.
In addition to advanced vehicle facilities, Yiwu's bus services are also outstanding—humanized bilingual announcements, foreign language volunteer service teams, active yielding before zebra crossings... Yiwu, through its buses, showcases a warm, friendly, and inclusive urban image, leaving a deep impression on the visiting group.
Smart Bus Highlights Urban Innovation Genes
Yiwu is known as a city of "making something out of nothing" and creating miracles. With a profound and unique cultural heritage, it has a pioneering spirit of innovation. The construction of smart public transportation is a significant initiative for the development of transportation and urban construction in Yiwu, as well as a carrier for public transportation innovation.
In May of this year, Yiwu's public transportation mobile payment achieved full coverage, allowing all bus routes and vehicles in the city to accept payments via Alipay and UnionPay QuickPass. Smart public transportation has become part of the daily lives of residents.
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