Changwon Mayor Hong Nam-pyo Addresses Citizen Inconvenience After Temporary Opening of Changwon S-BRT

Order for Stable Implementation to Ensure Urban Bus Punctuality and Improve Stop Convenience

Nam-pyo Hong, the Mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, visited the temporary opening site of the Wonidae-ro S-BRT (Superior Bus Rapid Transit System) on the 25th to directly inspect the operation status of city buses and the progress of signal system improvements. He addressed each citizen inconvenience and suggestion, and ordered swift improvements to ensure a stable settlement.

Hong Nampyo, Changwon Special City Mayor, Addresses Citizen Inconveniences Following Temporary Opening of S-BRT.

The Wonidae-ro S-BRT, which temporarily opened on the 15th, currently operates 339 city buses on 45 routes, and various opinions from citizens have been raised as a result.

The main inconveniences reported by citizens include: ▲confusion when boarding at bus stops ▲safety issues on the dedicated bicycle lanes ▲ensuring visibility of traffic lights ▲allowing commuter buses to use the lanes ▲an increase in the number of bus stops ▲reduced travel speed due to the bus safety speed limit (40 km/h).

In response, Changwon City has changed the direction of bus stop arrows to match the direction of travel and installed additional auxiliary direction signs to resolve boarding confusion at bus stops.

Safety fences have been installed at the boundaries between the elevated bicycle lanes and general traffic lanes.

To solve the issue of traffic lights being obscured by street trees, pruning work was carried out, and supplementary traffic lights were installed to address recognition problems.

The city has requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to revise the Special Act on Bus Rapid Transit to allow commuter buses to use the lanes and plans to consult with related agencies. Issues related to bus punctuality and complaints about increased bus stops and general lane speed, which are related to the signal system, are currently being monitored, and any unreasonable signal systems will be improved in consultation with relevant agencies to ensure punctuality.

Mayor Hong stated, "We must thoroughly guide and enforce to prevent vehicles from driving in the wrong direction on BRT lanes, and to ensure that unauthorized vehicles and two-wheelers do not use the BRT lanes." He also instructed, "Promptly address citizen feedback by improving facilities and taking swift action so that there is no inconvenience in using the system."