It’s the kind of headline that leaves you with a giant “But how?!” hanging in the centre of your brain, and so you just have to open it:
北京公交后天起防爆安检
Beijing public transport to begin bomb-prevention security checks day after tomorrow
Obviously, they can’t set up x-ray machines in every bus door…..
司乘人员无权开包检查，将谢绝乘客携可疑包裹上车
Drivers and attendants have no right to open bags to check, will politely refuse passengers carrying suspicious packages
Yes, but…..
8月1日起，北京公交站点及车内将实行防爆安全检查，北京公交集团副总经理冯庆福昨日透露，如发现可疑包裹及十分可疑人员，将谢绝其搭乘公交车辆。
Starting from August 1, Beijing bus stations and vehicles will implement bomb-prevention security checks, vice general manager of the Beijing Public Transport Group Feng Qingfu revealed yesterday. If a suspicious package and completely suspicious person is discovered, they will not be allowed to enter the bus.
冯庆福表示，北京公交不能像地铁或机场在封闭的出入口处设置安检设施，为保障平安奥运，北京公交集团将组织已接受专业培训的5000至7000名司乘人员，在北京多处公交站点及车厢内进行安全巡查。
Feng Qingfu said, Beijing’s buses can’t install equipment for safety inspections at sealed entrances like the airport or subway, so to ensure a safe Olympics, the Beijing Public Transport Group will organise 5000 to 7000 drivers and attendants who have already received specialist training to carry out safety inspections at many of Beijing’s bus stops and on buses.
他表示，这些司乘人员无权开包检查乘客行囊，主要通过“一看二闻三问”和携带安全检测仪实施安检措施。
He said these drivers and attendants have no right to open passengers’ bags for inspection, the important thing is to go through “First look, second smell, third ask”, carry testing equipment and implement inspection measures.
如发现可疑包裹，司乘人员将婉言谢绝乘客将其带上车，或拒绝该乘客搭乘公交车。如有突发事件，司乘人员将第一时间拨打110报警电话。
If a suspicious package is discovered, the drivers and attendants will politely refuse to allow the passenger to bring it on the bus or refuse to allow the passenger on the bus. If an incident breaks out, the drivers and attendants will immediately dial 110 to report it to the police.
他称，北京公交会积极参与在北京奥运会开幕前的三场演练。奥运赛时，北京公交将为中外游客及北京市民提供最便捷的出行服务。
He said Beijing’s public transport will actively take part in three exercises before the opening of the Olympics. During the Olympics, will provide the most quick and convenient transport service for Chinese and foreign tourists and Beijing residents.
冯庆福透露，自从实施单双号限行后，北京每日共有18000多车辆上路，公交每日增加约一百万人次的客流量，日客流量达到1300万人次之多。
Feng Qingfu revealed that since the implementation of the odds/evens traffic restrictions, the passenger volume on public transport has increased by 1 million person-times, and the daily passenger volume has reached over 13 million person-times.
Notes: I’ve translated ‘公交’ alternatively as either ‘bus’ or ‘public transport’. I may be wrong, but it seems fairly clear to me that the public transport referred to in this articles is of the bus variety. Likewise, it seemed pretty obvious that ‘防爆’ was referring to bombs and not just any kind of explosion. I’m sure they already maintain buses engines, fuel tanks, tires, and other bits that can explode, and Feng Qingfu does talk a lot about suspicious packages and suspicious people. I’m not sure about ‘person-times’- am I being too literal? I don’t know, I’m not sure how passenger volume is measured.
It’ll be interesting to see how this actually works out in practice, although I’m not sure that I’ll find out. I’m much happier on my bike than on any public transport.
