Autonomous Vehicles Need Oversight

The Proposal for Autonomous Vehicle testing in the Beizhan bus terminal seems like a safe way to address this technology. Sensors in smart buses can be tested safely with professional drivers in an area where pedestrians and bicycles are prohibited. The US is moving too fast I think. Pedestrian Killed in US by Automated Vehicle. See Guiyang Tech Village .

Guiyang Jazz

This is Guiyang Jazz. Martin, an Australian, has loved music all his life. He plays with Chinese musicians and brings his jazzy friends up from Australia to play at the Obsession Jazz bar, on Wenchang Beilu. Live Jazz  ( Alt Link ) . It is right across from the Wenchang Castle in the old part of town. It is a multicultural experience with Chinese and foreigners together in the same Jazz Bar venue. Martin has drawn from many parts of the globe, including from England to Australia. Guiyang Jazz, like all Jazz has it roots in the south of the USA. Martin even pulls in Americans to play drums, horns, and one of my favorites, the zydeco. The zydeco is sometimes referred to as a Louisiana washboard Zydeco  ( Alt Link ).

Guiyang jazz seems to be coming up in the jazz world. Guiyang Report

Gaotie and Bus from new Dongzhan

Two engines for a long Gaotie train.

I recently discovered that Guiyang has a fourth rail station. We.had one conventional rail station during the sixteen years since I first visited Guiyang in 2000. Then there were three with the addition of a high speed rail station at the new airport and the north high speed rail Station called Beizhan. I just arrived at  the East Station (Dongzhan), from Kaili, about 110 miles away.. It has been open for a couple months. Now there are four train stations . . . one conventional and three high speed rail (300 kph or 186 mph). The high speed rail is called Gaotie, which loosely translates as “High Iron”.

The infrastructure investment is very aggressive here, We have had three train stations and a replacement air terminal open in the last three years. A ring road and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line circling the city has also been completed during that period.

Cost in time and cash of yesterday’s trip from Kaili is as follows:Kaili kindargarten to train Station, 30 minutes and 4 rmb; Kaili rail station to Guiyang rail station, 35 minutes and 53.5 rmb; Guiyang East Station to my home by bus, 21 minutes and 2 rmb. The short walk to my apartment cost seven minutes and about 16 calories (no cost, calories were borrowed from surplus). It took about an hour and a half including wait times for buses and trains. Total cost from kindergarten to home, about 130 miles was just about 60 rmb, or approx. $9.50.