Modernization Process In The Shanghai Urban Public Transport Study (1908-1937)

This thesis presents a discussion with the focus on the modernization of public transportation of Shanghai in four chapters.Chapter One outlines the progression of modernization of public transportation in modern Shanghai. It expounds the impact made by the progression of urban rhythm in Shanghai on the variance of public transportation structure. Followed by are descriptions of the development skeleton and general situation of foreign concessions and Chinese residential areas respectively.In Chapter Two, elaboration is provided on the operation and management of Chinese and foreign public transportation enterprises. On the one hand, analysis is made to the operation and management of foreign-run public transportation enterprises from the angle of capital structure and source, personnel organization and management, route operation and financial situation. On the other hand, the chapter demonstrates the predicament of Chinese public transportation enterprises in fund raising and business operation, and analyzes the main reasons for that. Besides, it also points out that at the start-up stage of modernization of Chinese public transportation, city-run enterprises enjoyed more advantages and were therefore more conducive to the smooth development of the public transportation of Chinese residential areas by comparing city-run enterprises and commercial ones in the fields of interior management and exterior operational environment.Chapter Three discusses the basic management modes of public transportation authorities in Chinese residential areas and foreign concessions respectively. On the one hand, it analyses the basic relationship between the authority of foreign concessions and foreign-run transportation enterprises, and the basic management philosophy of public transportation within its administrative region on this legal basis, stressing special operational system of public transportation. On the other hand, by taking the promulgation of Regulation on Supervision and Management of Commercial Public Utilities, it explains the basic ideas of managing public transportation of Chinese authorities, and hereby the contradictions and conflicts with commercial enterprises.Chapter Four investigates the interactive relations between the development of public transportation and modern Shanghai society. A specific analysis suggests the influence on the modernization of public transportation of modern Shanghai by urbanprosperity, immigrants gathering and exterritoriality. Meanwhile, it also illustrates public transportation modernization had promotional effect on the change effect on the change of lifestyle of city residents and the growth of city residents consciousness. Based on the above chapters, the thesis makes further explanation on some important issues that influenced the development of urban public transportation of modern Shanghai, such as the relationships between traditional transportation modes and modern public transportation, between foreign concessions and Chinese residential areas, between transportation enterprises and the city authorities. Finally a conclusion is drawn that modem Shanghai urban public transportation was developed in the background of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, and of interaction among various social forces and interest subjects. These complicated social relations and contradictions constitute important variables in the process of public transportation modernization, which finally determined the route and mode of public transportation modernization in Shanghai.