"Preventing Traffic Accidents and Guaranteeing Mobility Rights for the Elderly"
Gochang County in North Jeolla Province has been finally selected as the target area for the second round of the "Demand-Responsive Bus Support Project," which is hosted by the National Police Agency and jointly conducted with Hyundai Motor Company and the Citizens' Coalition for Safety Practice.
Gochang County has been finally selected as the target area for the "Demand-Responsive Bus Support Project," jointly conducted by the National Police Agency, Hyundai Motor Company, and the Citizens' Coalition for Safety Practice. Photo by Gochang County
According to the county on July 3, this project was launched to prevent traffic accidents involving elderly drivers and to guarantee mobility rights for the elderly. The selected local governments will receive demand-responsive buses (DRT) free of charge.
The county plans to incorporate this project into the "Sillim and Seongnae-myeon Happy Bus" initiative. The vehicles provided free of charge will operate not only on existing fixed routes but also flexibly in response to residents' calls, utilizing the demand-responsive transport (DRT) system.
Vehicles previously in use will be utilized as reserve vehicles, which is expected to prevent service disruptions caused by vehicle maintenance and significantly reduce inconvenience for residents.
The demand-responsive buses can be summoned by users at their desired time and location via a smartphone app or village kiosks. The buses will then operate along the most efficient route to the destination. This is expected to reduce unnecessary empty runs, shorten dispatch intervals, save budget, and improve convenience for residents.
County Governor Shim Deokseop stated, "We expect this support project to greatly alleviate mobility inconveniences for transportation-vulnerable groups," adding, "We will continue to improve transportation welfare services to create a safer and more convenient transportation environment."
The Happy Bus operates between villages and the township centers in Sillim-myeon and Seongnae-myeon. It does not run on Sundays or public holidays. The fare is 1,000 won for adults and 500 won for students.
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