The Digital Press

Shanghai has launched a new public bus system called "DZ" that allows residents to propose, vote on, and quickly activate customized bus routes based on actual demand. This crowd-sourced approach aims to better match transit capacity with rider needs, improving convenience and resource efficiency.

Why it matters: Residents can create bus routes that directly address their travel needs, reducing wait times and unnecessary service.

The big picture: This system leverages Shanghai's dense transit network and state capacity to innovate public transportation design rapidly.

The stakes: Early challenges include uneven passenger demand, low public awareness, and reliance on manual planning efforts.

Commenters say: Users praise the crowd-driven, demand-responsive transit model as smart and efficient, but note challenges in scaling and question applicability outside highly centralized systems.