Current Installation Rate at 43.8%
To Expand to 50% Within the Year
Going forward, Seoul's village buses will also have expanded installation of bus information terminals (BIT) at stops, making it easier for passengers to access real-time bus arrival information, similar to city buses.
On June 12, Seoul City announced the launch of the "Village Bus BIT Improvement Project." Until now, the city had installed BIT devices at village bus stops frequently used by transportation-vulnerable groups, but the installation rate remained at only 43.8% (2,466 units). This means that at more than half of the village bus stops, only standard signboards indicating the routes were available. Even at stops where BIT terminals had already been installed, many were outdated, with some displaying "out of order" signs.
This year, the city plans to replace 398 outdated devices and newly install 315 additional units as part of the improvement initiative. With these new installations, the BIT coverage rate at village bus stops in the city will rise to 49.4%.
To enable a prompt response in case of malfunctions, the management system will be shifted to focus on local district offices. Previously, the Village Bus Association, district offices, and others jointly managed installation and maintenance. By strengthening on-site maintenance and management, the city expects to provide more stable services.
The display method of BIT devices will also be improved so that essential transportation information?such as emergency detours and public transportation measures?can be checked, just like on city buses. In addition, the city has distributed a standard design for signboard-type village bus BITs after review by the Public Design Promotion Committee, and plans to unify them with city bus public design standards, including the use of the "Seoul Announcement Font" and curved corners.
Furthermore, the city will continue to work with district offices to ensure smooth implementation of the village bus information terminal improvement project. As the management system is currently being reorganized and on-site facilities are being upgraded, the goal is to rapidly increase the installation rate and improve services by the end of the year.
Yeo Jangkwon, Director of the Seoul City Transportation Bureau, stated, "We will continue to manage the village bus information terminals, which are directly connected to citizens' daily lives and mobility, to enhance transportation convenience for local residents and the elderly."
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