科技动态:北京未来的概念交通

China has developed an American-style infatuation with the automobile¹. As a result, traffic in most major cities' streets is a nightmare. So the Chinese government has been experimenting with multiple public transport options. This latest concept, known as the 3D fast bus, runs on stilt²-like legs, ferrying passengers some 14 feet above the road, while allowing other vehicles to pass underneath³. It is sort of a hybrid⁴ bus and train that can run on either rails laid on either side of the road, or on wheels that are programmed to follow routes painted on the pavement.

中国汽车行业发展迅速。结果这造成了中国主要城市大街上车水马龙，交通拥堵。因此，中国政府努力发展多元公共交通。最新的设想是一种名为3D快车的交通工具。利用高脚，在高于公路14英尺的公路上方运送乘客，同时允许车辆从下方通过。这种新型交通工具相当于汽车和火车的结合物，它可以在铁路和公路上，甚至是标有路线的人行道上行驶。

The company behind it, Shen Zhen HuaShi, says they are starting construction at the end of the year in the suburb north of Beijing. Although Chinese official says it will be at least a couple of years before it actually gets completed. It is expected to cost about seven million dollars per kilometer to build. Each car costs about four million dollars. Chinese state media, which has reported widely on the project, says the construction costs are about a tenth of what it would cost to build a subway. Obviously, the first question everyone asks is: How does it not run into other traffic?

设计公司，深圳Huashi表示，他们将于年底在北京北部郊区改造城市道路。但中国政府表示至少要在几年后才会完成改造。预期会花费700万美元。而每辆车预计花费400万美元。国内媒体广泛介绍这种新型交通模式，媒体表示，这种交通方式的花费是建造地铁的十分之一。很明显，别人首先会问：这种交通工具下面如何行使其他的汽车呢？

The bus will supposedly use a system of lasers and ultrasound to fend⁵ off some other vehicles. Some western transportation experts say it will never work because it is just impossible to rule over a traffic like that. But others give the Chinese credit for even attempting such a system, as traffic planning is always a bit of a trial-and-error process.

这种车将应用镭射和超声波系统来躲避其他车辆。一些西方交通学者表示，这种车绝不可能成真，因为这样的交通不可能存在。但其他学者表示相信这种交通模式会成真，因为交通规划本来就是个探索的过程。

infatuation n. 迷惑,迷恋,醉心

stilt n. 高跷，支柱，脚柱

1 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

2 stilt   

n.高跷，支柱

参考例句：

• They inhabit reed huts built on stilts above the water.他们住在建于水中木桩之上的芦苇草屋里。
• Thatch hut is raised high above the paddy field on stilt.茅草屋用柱高高地建在稻田之上。

3 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

4 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

5 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。