Suzhou - Post Report Question and Answers

Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?

High speed rail and subways are world-class, safe, and affordable. Buses are cheap and safe too. China has many car sharing services, with DiDi and Cao Cao being the most common. Traffic safety is a real issue. Suzhou and other major cities now have cameras and censors along most major roads and intersections, which has cut down speeding and red-light violations (but only in places with cameras and censors). It’s done nothing, however, for illegal turns, driving on shoulders, swerving between lanes, or careless driving. There’s very little safety consciousness here. Cabs and car service drivers tend to disable the seatbelts in the back seat, and people who follow the law generally do so only to avoid being detected by a camera and fined—not because they want to avoid accidentally hurting someone or themselves. Silent electric scooters are everywhere, and their riders invariably ignore the law. - Jun 2019


Absolutely, trains? Jevon from Texas had his ATM card stolen on the way to Beijing in the train by a fellow compartment passenger, big trouble. Buses ? Subway ? Slide your purse/wallet down your front to your belt. Wear your backpack on your front. They will take your coin like hairs out of margarine. Suzhou? 2 bucks for 4 kilometers. I pay $2.50 to get home. - Jun 2007


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