Gyeongnam Province to Increase '161 Low-Floor Buses' for Transportation-Disadvantaged

On the 5th, Gyeongnam Province decided to introduce an additional 161 low-floor buses this year, which is expected to make it more convenient for transportation-vulnerable groups in the province to use city buses.

This follows the enforcement of the revised Act on the Promotion of Mobility Convenience for Transportation-Vulnerable Persons on January 19 of this year, which mandates the introduction of low-floor buses when replacing route buses that have reached their service life or exceeded their operating distance with other vehicles.

Considering that the province has introduced an average of about 100 low-floor buses annually over the past five years, this is the largest scale of low-floor bus introduction. To this end, a total of 14.8 billion KRW has been secured, including 7.4 billion KRW in national funds, 3.7 billion KRW in provincial funds, and 3.7 billion KRW in city and county funds.

According to the province, low-floor buses have a lower height compared to regular (high-floor) buses and are equipped with devices that assist wheelchair and stroller boarding, making it easier for transportation-vulnerable groups such as the disabled, elderly, and pregnant women to get on and off. The interior of the vehicle is also spacious, allowing general citizens to use it comfortably.

Exterior (left) and interior views of a low-floor bus running in Gyeongnam Province. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Currently, out of 1,983 buses in the province, 503 low-floor buses are in operation, resulting in an introduction rate of 25%.

Due to the characteristics of low-floor buses, the province is working to encourage their introduction and increase their adoption rate by compensating for operational losses caused by excessive vehicle purchase and operating costs.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s 4th Plan for the Promotion of Mobility Convenience for Transportation-Vulnerable Persons (2022?2026), Gyeongnam Province’s target introduction rate is 41%.

As of the end of December 2022, the introduction rate of low-floor buses in Gyeongnam Province was somewhat low at 25%, but it is expected to rise to 32% this year when including replacements from regular buses to low-floor buses.

It is also anticipated that the target introduction rate will be easily achieved as rural buses, which previously had a low introduction rate of low-floor buses, are gradually being replaced with low-floor buses.

Kim Young-sam, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, said, “As there is a high demand for low-floor buses in the province, we will do our best to distribute low-floor buses to guarantee the mobility rights of transportation-vulnerable groups such as the disabled and elderly, as well as the residents of the province.”