[Kaohsiung News]
The “Kaohsiung GO” shared transportation service officially launched in Maolin and Jiasian Districts on March 7! With the presence of local district offices, village chiefs, and community members, the service was inaugurated by Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-jung at 11:00 AM in Maolin and at 2:00 PM in Jiasian, announcing the commencement of the pre-booked transport service in these two areas.
Since its initial expansion in Meinong District in 2021, the “Kaohsiung GO” service has gradually extended its coverage, adding two new districts each year. It currently operates in Shanlin, Neimen, and Liouguei Districts, with Maolin and Jiasian officially joining the network today. By the end of the year, the service is expected to be introduced in Taoyuan and Namasia Districts, achieving the goal of providing shared transport services across all nine districts in the Cimei region.
The Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government highlighted the challenges in Jiasian and Maolin due to their vast areas, low population density, and dispersed settlements. Traditional bus services are limited to provincial highways, making route and schedule flexibility a challenge. After assessing public transportation needs in these districts, a point-to-point reservation-based service was identified as a more efficient solution to cater to seniors and students while improving overall public transport efficiency.
According to the Transportation Bureau, the “Kaohsiung GO” service in Maolin and Jiasian started trial operations in late November last year. By the end of January this year, it had already provided over 2,000 rides. A frequent passenger, Grandma Tuo, shared her experience: “I used to take the shuttle taxi to Gaoshu, then walk to the clinic and wait for another one to two hours before it opened. Now, I can take ‘Kaohsiung GO’ directly to the clinic according to my appointment time, leaving me extra time to shop at the nearby market. The driver even helps carry my groceries—it’s truly heartwarming.”
To continue expanding rural transportation services, the Transportation Bureau plans to apply for subsidies from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in 2025 to extend the “Kaohsiung GO” service to Taoyuan and Namasia Districts, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all nine Cimei districts and promoting transportation equity in rural areas.
The bureau further explained that “Kaohsiung GO” operates as a reservation-based transport service with no restrictions on travel purposes. Residents can book rides through local district offices, household registration offices, village offices, hospitals, clinics, schools, long-term care stations, and community care centers. Reservations can also be made via the toll-free service hotline 0800-660-696 or through the official Line account "Kaohsiung GO - Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City." For more details, visit the Transportation Bureau's official website (https://www.tbkc.gov.tw) or the “Kaohsiung GO” website (https://www.khgo.net/Meinong/WebPage/PublicWebModule/pagMeinongmotc.aspx).
Contact Information:
Transport Supervision Division, Transportation Bureau
Section Chief: Lee Chi-ching
Phone: 0963-599-596
