[Kaohsiung News]
Kaohsiung City is vast with a sparse population, and its residents are spread out. Buses mainly run along main routes, making it difficult to reach every neighborhood. To improve public transportation services and ensure that rural residents can easily access transportation, the Transportation Bureau began operating bus-style "Taxi-Bus" in 2014. These buses replace regular buses, allowing them to navigate narrow lanes and pick up passengers on demand. In 2023, the Happiness Bus was launched, offering flexible, point-to-point reservation services, breaking down time and space limitations. This service has enhanced the coverage of public transportation to 100%, ensuring that rural residents can feel the benefits of public transit.
Currently, Kaohsiung runs 47 bus-style Taxi-Bus routes, covering 34 administrative districts. The Happiness Bus services districts such as Meinong, Shanlin, Liouguei, Neimen, Jiasian, and Maolin, with over 260,000 vistors taken to date. Notably, seniors account for 75% of the passengers, making it a model for age-friendly transportation. By the end of 2025, the service will be extended to the Tauyuan and Namasia districts, achieving the goal of transportation equality in rural districts.
This year, the Kaohsiung Happiness Bus was honored with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' "2025 Happiness Bus Golden Transportation Award – Outstanding Award." The Transportation Bureau expresses its gratitude to local organizations, drivers, and the support of rural residents. During the award ceremony, Dong Jia-Hong, the chairman of the Liouguei line of Happiness Bus operator, the Fu-Tian Association, pointed out that many elderly people in rural areas, especially those living alone, choose to reduce their outings to avoid bothering their children. The Happiness Bus not only improves transportation but also encourages elderly residents to leave their houses. During busy farming seasons, children don't need to walk home alone, making their journeys safer.
Ms. Zhong, chairman of the Shishan Community Development Association, also shared a story about a grandmother at a community care station who had not been going out due to family reasons. Through continuous visits by the association, she was invited to attend classes at the station, where she regained her smile. Chairman Zhong said, “When the grandmother first came, she wouldn't speak to anyone. But thanks to the Happiness Bus, we picked her up every day to bring her to the station. Gradually, she started talking to others, and eventually, she became someone who never missed a day.”
The Happiness Bus can be booked through district offices, community care stations, medical institutions, schools, and other organizations. Additionally, passengers can directly call the customer service hotline at 0800-660-696 or join the official LINE account "Kaohsiung City Transportation Bureau - Kaohsiung GO" to make a reservation.
