Survey of 800 Hangang Bus Users
Many Cite Reasonable Fare and Comfortable Interior
Main Purposes: Unique Experience and Enjoying the Scenery
A recent survey found that most early users of the Hangang Bus were satisfied after riding it. However, the Hangang Bus has been suspended for about a month due to issues that arose just ten days after the start of official operations.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on October 2 the results of a survey conducted over four days-on the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 28th of last month-targeting 800 Hangang Bus users. The survey was conducted through on-site interviews, with every Nth passenger selected at random as they exited at each of the seven piers. The sampling error was ±3.45% at a 95% confidence level.
The Hangang Bus, which began full-scale operation on the 18th of last month, is passing under the Jamsu Bridge in Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dongju
When asked about their overall satisfaction with the Hangang Bus, 86.3% (690 respondents) said they were satisfied. By gender, women (88.0%) reported a higher satisfaction rate than men (84.4%). By age group, those in their 20s had the highest satisfaction rate at 91.7%, followed by those in their 30s (88.4%), 50s (87.8%), 40s (86.3%), 70 and older (80.8%), and 60s (79.4%).
The most common reason for satisfaction (multiple responses allowed) was the reasonable fare (53.2%). The fare for a single ride on the Hangang Bus is 3,000 won. Other reasons included the comfort of the interior space (39.6%), accessibility to the piers (22.3%), and the convenience of the boarding and disembarking process (18.3%).
The most common reason for dissatisfaction (multiple responses allowed) was accessibility to the piers (44.5%). Other reasons included the boarding and disembarking process (27.3%), the waiting facilities inside the piers (21.8%), and operational stability issues such as vibration, noise, and swaying (19.1%). In addition, 88.8% of respondents said they would recommend the Hangang Bus to family or acquaintances. Satisfaction rates for pier facilities and the fare system were 90.3% and 94.5%, respectively.
A Hangang bus docked at Magok Pier in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Seoul City announced that it will conduct a passenger-free pilot operation for a month starting from the 29th of last month to enhance performance. Yonhap News
The most common reason for using the Hangang Bus (multiple responses allowed) was “to have a unique experience of traveling on the Hangang River” (74.0%). Other reasons included enjoying the Hangang scenery or spending leisure time (53.0%), the reasonable fare (14.9%), and convenient transportation to the destination without traffic congestion (8.5%).
When asked what needs improvement, the most common response was improving accessibility (such as better signage and pedestrian paths), at 35.6%. Other suggestions included strengthening connections with public transportation such as buses and subways (26.5%), enhancing the information system for operational updates (15.6%), and improving operational stability (7.9%).
The Seoul Metropolitan Government launched official operations of the Hangang Bus on September 18. However, after repeated suspensions and resumptions due to technical issues, the city halted passenger service just ten days later, on September 28, and switched to a “passenger-free pilot operation” to enhance performance and stability. The Hangang Bus is scheduled to resume service at the end of October.
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