"Just One Call Is Enough"... Goyang City Expands 'SmartBus Phone Call Service' Citywide

Phone Call Booking Introduced in Siksa, Deogeun, and Hyangdong from May 23
Elderly Residents Can Now Use SmartBus with a Single Phone Call

Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation announced on May 23 that it will newly introduce the 'SmartBus Phone Call Service' in areas such as Siksadong, Deogeundong, and Hyangdong in Goyang City.

SmartBus CS Center call consultation scene. Provided by Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation.

The phone call service is a measure aimed at improving mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups, such as the elderly who are not familiar with using digital devices.

'SmartBus' is a demand-responsive bus service that calculates the optimal route in real time when a user calls a bus via the 'Ddokta' smartphone app. However, elderly users who are not accustomed to using apps have faced difficulties accessing the service.

To address this issue, Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation piloted the phone call service in Gobongdong, Goyang City, in June of last year. After confirming stable operation, the company has now expanded the service to the Siksa, Deogeun, and Hyangdong areas.

Currently, the phone call service is operated in 10 out of 16 cities in the province, and there are plans to expand it to all SmartBus operation areas in Gyeonggi Province by the second half of this year.

Citizens who wish to use the phone call service can make a reservation by calling the call center and speaking with a representative. When users provide their boarding and destination locations, they will receive information on vehicle assignment and estimated arrival time.

Min Kyungseon, President of Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, stated, "Even in a society where digital transformation is accelerating, everyone should have fair access to transportation services. Through the expansion of the phone call service, we will actively address the issue of digital exclusion and realize transportation welfare for all."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation expects that this measure will improve accessibility to key facilities such as hospitals, markets, and government offices, thereby further strengthening the mobility rights of local residents.