Beijing's custom buses can be booked online

Beijing's customized buses can be booked online starting Sept 1, People's Daily reported Friday.

The service, provided by Beijing Public Transport Holdings, will begin on Sept 1. Passengers will be able to book seats and go directly to their destinations without transferring buses. And they will be able to make reservations and pay on www.bjbus.com, the company's official website.

The routes will be launched at several locations on the outskirts of the capital city, including the eastern Tongzhou district, western Shijingshan district, northern Changping district, and southern Fengtai district. The website is also looking into commuters' travel needs to arrange the times, locations and routes of the buses.

The bus will be economical, as a 20-kilometer ride is only 15 yuan ($2.45), compared with 45 yuan by car or 100 yuan by taxi, according to www.bjbus.com. All of the special buses will be air-conditioned.