Taichung's Double Ten Bus Discount Proves Effective! Ridership on 46 Long-Distance Routes Grows Against the Trend

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said at yesterday's (14th) municipal meeting that despite the severe epidemic situation, ridership on some long-distance bus routes has still grown against the trend, showing that the previously launched Double Ten Bus Discount has increased the public's incentive to ride. The city government will continue to implement epidemic prevention measures for public transport, and also thanks residents for cooperating by wearing masks on buses, jointly making the city safer.

Taichung City - At the beginning of this year, the "Double Ten Bus" discount policy was launched. As long as residents tap their cards when boarding, rides within 10 km are free, and beyond that the maximum charge is only 10 yuan. It has been well received since its launch. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said, "This year is the most important year for Taichung's transportation!" The Double Ten Bus policy was launched at the beginning of the year, the Green Line of the MRT will open to traffic at the end of the year, and there are also multiple road projects such as the through-connection of Dazhi Road and the extension and opening of Shizheng Road, making the city more accessible.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen emphasized that the Double Ten Bus Discount greatly reduces transportation costs for long-distance commuters, students commuting to school, and residents in remote rural areas seeking medical treatment. It can strengthen connections among all administrative districts, achieve the revitalization of regional economic development, and deliver four major benefits: fairness and justice, subsidizing the economically disadvantaged, energy saving and carbon reduction, and improving air pollution.

⟧ The Taichung City Transportation Bureau pointed out that after the launch of the Double Ten Bus, bus routes passing through national highways or bus-only lanes, including Routes 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 300, 304, 305, 310, and 658, are the routes where residents most often use the Double Ten discount. In addition, despite the impact of the epidemic, urban bus ridership has recently declined, but there are still 46 long-distance routes whose ridership has grown against the trend since the launch of the Double Ten discount compared with the same period last year. For example, weekday long-distance ridership on buses such as Routes 92, 153, 213, 228, 659, 850, and 865 has clearly increased by about 10%.