In an attempt to provide better commuting services for office workers, Shanghai residents in some places can now reserve a seat in a customized bus, with a one-click reservation on their mobile phone via Alipay. The price is 18 ¥, about 1/10 the prize of a taxi. The bus route is calculated by AI according to the homes and destinations of the passengers, and the bus does not stop during the journey, only at the gate of the customer and the sites of the office building, which greatly improves the running speed compared to traditional lines. The “Traffic Brain” software developed by Alipay automatically simulates the route, station and departure schedule. The attendance rate of the line is reportedly above 80% since the launch. A representative of Alipay claims that such kind of customized bus will cover all China within three years.
People’s Daily, September 17, 2019
