China's latest experiment in public transportation is not for the acrophobic.

The futuristic Transit Elevated Bus (TEB)—a unique vehicle that straddles the road and rides over two lanes of traffic—took its first "test drive" this week.

On Tuesday, one TEB carriage traveled along a controlled track less than 1,000 feet long in Qinhuangdao City (in north China's Hebei Province).

A long time coming, TEB debuted at the Beijing International High-Tech Expo in May. The system's daddy-longlegs-like design allows cars to pass freely underneath, while the bus carries passengers above.

Bai Zhiming, an engineer in charge of the project, recently told Chinese news outlet CCTV+ that the bus would ideally transport up to 1,200 people at a time at 37mph, according to Shanghaiist.

Larger and more modern than existing local transit options—with a handful of seats and plenty of standing space—TEB promises the same convenience as the underground train, at "less than one fifth" the cost. And construction could be completed in just one year, Zhiming said.

Passengers may find the TEB experience relaxing and exciting. But imagine being overtaken in your car by a bus-tunnel, or stopped at a red light under the shadow of the straddling machine.

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