BusTalkIdeas

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Web sites:
http://www.jt.sh.cn/
http://www.shanghaibus.net/
http://www.buszone.cn/
http://218.242.133.83:8080/
http://www.sptcc.com/page12.htm

http://meyerweb.com/eric/tools/s5/

In "Powerpoint" form, here:

http://msittig.wubi.org/bus/talk/

Notes

A Shanghai Bus System Tutorial (for non-Chinese-speakers)
by Micah Sittig (msittig@gmail.com)

How to use the bus system

  • Use a map!

    • Be familiar with the city, landmarks, street names.

  • Use a notebook!

    • Non-locals have less time to learn stuff, so write it down.

  • Use your computer!

    • We are nerds, after all.

    • Not being able to read Chinese, online tools will be a great help.

How to find a stop.

  • Keep your eyes open

    • When you are walking around, write down locations that are meaningful to you.

  • Look on the map

    • Maps often show a selection of bus stop by writing the line number along the streets.

  • Don't be afraid to ask

    • Crossing-guards!

  • Identify major hubs

    • Shanghai Railway Station, People's Square, Xujiahui, Zhongshan Park, and Wujiaochang.

  • Common gotchas

    • Same stop, different name (too many examples to name).

    • Different stop, same name (Jing'an Temple).

    • "One-way" stops.

How to read the sign.

    • Lots of pictures.

    • 312 night bus: two-named stop, night times.

Bus numbers & names

  • Numbered buses

    • The higher the number, the further out you are, except for...

  • 300's

    • Ahh, 300s, my old friend. Late nights for Shanghai night-owls...

  • 500's & 600's

    • Puxi and Pudong specialty lines

  • 900's

  • Named buses

  • Tunnel, bridge, airport, night service, "black" buses ☺

  • Tourism buses

    • Leave from behind Shanghai (Soccer) Stadium

"According to time of operation, the buses are divided as follows: numbers that start with "2" are morning and evening rush hour buses, numbers that start with 3 are night buses; according to location, buses are divided as follows: Puxi buses, Pudong buses, buses that cross the river including tunnel and bridge lines, and suburban area buses [700s & 900s]"

How to pay.

  • Fare boxes

    • Only a driver, no ticket seller

    • Don't give change

    • Trick: stand by the box and collect change from next passengers

    • Clue: recognize by passengers getting on at the front of the bus.

  • Ticket sellers

    • Tell them how far you're going

    • Sometimes they can swipe your stored-value card, sometimes they can't

    • Clue: recognize by passengers getting on at the middle of the bus (you don't have to, it's just easier)

  • Stored-value card

    • RMB 30 deposit, returnable at certain stations

    • Fixable, if they break

    • Buy them at ticket windows, phone card booths inside stations and out

    • Customizable cards sold at 920 Nanjing West Rd

  • Ticket booklets

    • Sold at terminal stations and major hubs.

    • Discount?

"according to payment method, the buses are divided into: single-ticket RMB 1 (lines of 13 kilometer or less from end to end) and RMB 1.5 (lines of 13 kilometers or more from end to end) ticket-sellerless buses (most two digit city buses and three digits buses starting with "1", "2", "7" are of this kind; no change will be made, but terminal stations and hubs will have RMB 1 and RMB 1.5 ticket booklets for sale, 50 non-refundable tickets per booklet), and also single ticket RMB 2 air-conditioned buses and scaled-price ticket special lines (including specialty coach lines starting with "5", Pudong specialty lines starting with "6", mid-size coaches that start with "8", double-decker buses and air-conditioned coaches that start with "9", as well as the ten air-conditioned tourism lines [and airport buses])."

How to avoid the crowds.

  • On the bus.

    • Stand in the aisles, not in the center.

    • Do not stand by the door.

  • During the day.

    • Avoid rush hour, even on weekends.

    • Varies by line: is there a school, does it pass through a business district, etc.

How to know when to get off (aka Where the heck am I?!)

  • Look at the LED sign at the front of the bus.

    • Often not updated, or not present, so...

  • Count.

    • Duh.

  • Look as street signs & landmarks.

  • Don't be afraid to ask!

    • ...the ticket seller or driver. Technically illegal, but...

    • Fellow passengers. People tend to take the same line and be familiar with stops.

  • Map in Chinese at above-head level.

    • Sometimes different stops along the same street are called the same name on different lines. Use context (this is where map knowledge comes in handy).

Bus culture

  • Give up your seat.

  • How to be polite when you get off.

    • Plan ahead.

    • Shoulder tap.

  • Meeting people

    • Doesn't happen

    • Singles wristbands

But...

  • How do I read the stops?

http://msittig.wubi.org/bus/

  • Machine translation to English of over 900 bus lines.

    • Source: official website of Shanghai Transportation Administration

    • Watch out for mistakes, non-standard translations, awkward phrasings.

    • Shanghai Natatorium, Shanghai Indoor Stadium...

  • Write down/print out your favorite lines, or lines you've spotted.

    • Formatted nicely for printing.

  • Copyright? No thanks!

    • Freely use and distribute.

  • Copyleft? Not this either!

    • Without attribution.

    • Commercially.

  • Contact me for details, distribution info: msittig@gmail.com

Any Questions?

Useful Websites

English:
Bus Line Translations
http://msittig.wubi.org/bus/
Shanghai Expat message boards
http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/

Chinese:
Shanghai Transportation Administration
http://www.jt.sh.cn/
Shanghai Bus Net
http://www.shanghaibus.net/
Bus Zone message boards
http://www.buszone.cn/
Check your stored value card balance
http://218.242.133.83:8080/
Custom-made stored value cards
http://www.sptcc.com/page12.htm

http://www.chinataiwan.org/web/webportal/W4259418/Uadmin/A4269514.html

The city's 1100-some bus lines are like a spider web, new lines and extensions being added each year, and current lines being adjusted. According to time of operation, the buses are divided as follows: numbers that start with "2" are morning and evening rush hour buses, numbers that start with 3 are night buses; according to location, buses are divided as follows: Puxi buses, Pudong buses, buses that cross the river including tunnel and bridge lines, and suburban area buses [700s & 900s]; according to payment method, the buses are divided into: single-ticket RMB 1 (lines of 13 kilometer or less from end to end) and RMB 1.5 (lines of 13 kilometers or more from end to end) ticket-sellerless buses (most two digit city buses and three digits buses starting with "1", "2", "7" are of this kind; no change will be made, but terminal stations and hubs will have RMB 1 and RMB 1.5 ticket booklets for sale, 50 non-refundable tickets per booklet), and also single ticket RMB 2 air-conditioned buses and scaled-price ticket special lines (including specialty coach lines starting with "5", Pudong specialty lines starting with "6", mid-size coaches that start with "8", double-decker buses and air-conditioned coaches that start with "9", as well as the ten air-conditioned tourism lines [and airport buses]). Major bus hubs are the Shanghai Railway Station, People's Square, Xujiahui, Zhongshan Park, and Wujiaochang.

全市有1100多条公交线路密如蛛网，并正以每年新辟、延伸、调整50多条公交线路的记录持续扩充。按运营时间分，有：日间公交车、“2”字头的早晚高峰车和“3”字头的夜宵车；按地域范围分，有浦西的、浦东的、过江的（含大桥、隧道线）和郊区线；按票务方式分，有单一票价1元（全程13公里以下的线路）或1.5元（全程超13公里的线路）的无人售票车（市内公交号码为两位数的或三位数中“1” 字头、“2”字头、“7”字头的线路绝大多数是无人售票车，自备零钱，不找零，公交终点站、各主要交通枢纽均有1元和1元5角两种面值的公交预售票出售，每本50张，售出不退),还有单一票价2元的空调车和多级票价的专线车（有“5”字头的大巴专线、“6”字头的浦东专线车、“8”字头的中巴专线和“9” 字头的双层车或空调大巴，还有十条空调旅游专线）。上海火车站、人民广场、徐家汇、中山公园、五角场，为市内主要公交换乘枢纽。