Narrow bus stop platform becomes hazard  

南京惊现“平衡木”公交站台 仅50厘米宽(图)

A 50-centimeter-wide and 50-centimeter-tall platform at a bus station in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, has been dubbed "balance beam" by local citizens. （CNS Photo)

(ECNS) -- A 50-centimeter-wide and 50-centimeter-tall platform at a bus station in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, has been dubbed "balance beam" by local citizens, Chinanews.com reported.

The narrow platform at the Shizi Street bus stop, which is situated on Hongshan Road, makes waiting for a bus a dangerous job, passengers complained.

A passenger said standing on the thin high area is dangerous, as it is between traffic lanes and a busy bicycle lane. On rainy days, passengers have no place to avoid water splashed by passing vehicles, another said.

Buses from 15 routes stop at this station, but the platform can't hold so many passengers. Thus many have to wait on the roadside, which adds even more risk for children and seniors.

A bus stop platform should be at least 2.5 to 3.5 meters wide, according to official documents from urban management departments.

A staffer from the city's transportation bureau said on the condition of anonymity that roads in Nanjing are already narrow, so it is impossible to build a wider platform.