Bus stops here: Shanghai lets riders design their own routes

Re:Bus stops here: Shanghai lets riders design their own routes by throwaway2037 on Wednesday May 14, 2025 @07:02AM (#43983046)

Hongkong has an extensive mini-bus network -- the green tops (regularly scheduled and more tightly controlled) and the red tops (the wild west). Also, Tokyo runs mini-buses in the (richest) central core between areas that don't have connecting subways & trains.

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Re:Bus stops here: Shanghai lets riders design their own routes by thenthenthen on Wednesday May 14, 2025 @11:58AM (#43986072)

What is the difference between the red and green tops? In my experience the green ones are kinda wild as well, stop and go anywhere, super interesting. Too bad my Hongkongnese sucks.

Edit: Bisrepita shared the info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_light_bus

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Re:Bus stops here: Shanghai lets riders design their own routes by throwaway2037 on Wednesday May 14, 2025 @01:03PM (#43986818)

Hat tip to Bisrepita for the earlier share.

In my experience, red tops can do almost anything they want -- they can deviate from the planned route in any way that they wish. Also, most only accept cash (is this changing?). Green tops are pretty strict about stops and accept cash or local metro card (Octopus). On a deeper, urban explorer level: The red tops have waaaaay more aggressive drivers. It feels like GTA sometimes.

When riding a mini-bus, you only need two words of local language (Cantonese) to make it stop: 有落 jau5 lok6 ("yau-lok"). (You need to really shout to be heard over the revving engine.) For green top routes, use Google maps. They will guide you on what green top to take. Example: If you want to go hiking in Sai Kung, take the 101M green top mini-bus from Hang Hau metro station to Sai Kung pier. (Google maps can provide directions with the bus info.) Red tops are more adventurous and should only be taken if you speak/read more than a few words of Canto (50-100 words is fine).

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