For some kids in Barcelona, Spain, their Friday trip to school became a little different. In September, five children in Barcelona started a “bike bus” programme. Each Friday, they ride their bikes to school with their parents. Each time before doing so, they post their route(路线) online for other people to see. Anyone who wishes to join them could do so. The group has quickly grown to hundreds of riders.

The bike bus begins at about 8 a. m. every Friday and lasts for about 25 minutes. At first, it has only a few students and parents. And soon more and more people join them. There are several schools along the route. When students reach their school, they leave the “bus” and park their bikes. Instead of riding only in bike lanes(车道), the bike bus takes up the whole street. With music playing and bike bells ringing, it feels like a party. The local police support the programme. They ensure(确保) the safety of the kids and parents by riding in front of the group and behind it.

Before the bike bus programme, it wasn’t totally(完全地) safe for kids in Barcelona to go to school by bike. The bike lanes are not wide and the traffic is busy. Parents hope that the bike bus programme will change people’s ideas about getting around. They say biking is a great form of exercise. It’s also more environment-friendly than driving.

How do you like this programme? Would you think about joining it if there happened to be a bike bus in your hometown?

In science fiction movies, you might see cars that can drive by themselves—you tell them where you want to go, and they take you there as fast as possible. With 5G, cars like this may soon not be a dream.

Finland’s “robot buses” are a good example. The telecom company (电信公司) has fixed 5G transmitters (信号发射器) in 15 lampposts (路灯柱) along a 1-km road. These transmitters are able to control (控制) the buses, making them driverless.   

There are also 5G roads. These roads would also have many 5G transmitters. They can help you in smart ways, such as telling you where the nearest gas station is. These roads could also be used to control traffic. Transport bodies will be able to manage (管理) a road network in real time. They control traffic lights through computers.

Public transportation (公共交通) can also benefit from 5G and smart technology. In the South Korean city Seoul, there is a smart management system (系统) in one of the city’s subway stations. It makes the station more convenient and safer (安全的).

And of course, there are driverless cars. These cars can send information to each other. They also “talk” to traffic lights and road sensors. 5G will make these cars drive more safely because they can talk with each other, as well as with traffic lights and road sensors.