‘Bus academy’ helps drivers understand challenges facing elderly passengers
‘Bus academy’ helps drivers understand challenges facing elderly passengers
2025-11-18
Taiwan is rapidly becoming a super-aged society. Already, 24% of the 1 million daily riders on Taipei’s public buses are seniors. But buses can be dangerous for older folks who may have trouble standing firmly and may fall over. The Taipei Department of Transportation encouraged seniors to follow four principles for safe riding, but drivers are also stepping up. Through a first-ever “bus academy,” drivers can better understand their passengers in the hopes of creating a more pleasant riding experience for everyone.
After the doors open at a stop, passengers file into a bus one after the other. The driver over the loudspeaker reminds them to watch their step. Seeing that many are seniors, the driver lowers the floor of the bus so it’s easier for them to get on.
Chiang Chih-ming
Bus driver
When we give a reminder, it’s to ensure they pay attention to their safety when the bus needs to start moving. When it’s full, about 30% of those standing are seniors.
Taiwan is becoming a super-aged society. In Taipei alone, 23% of its population of 2.45 million is 65 or older. Of the 1 million people who ride the city’s buses every day, 240,000 use a senior card. They’re most worried about being unable to stay stable when the bus moves suddenly, potentially falling and getting injured.
I hold onto the railing or the handle.
Safe riding follows four principles. Before getting on the bus, remember to wave down the driver. Line up when getting on or off, and when riding, be sure to hold on tight. When getting off, press the button and wait until the bus fully stops before moving. At the same time, Taipei is offering a first-ever “bus academy.” Ten classes have been held since the end of March, including two practical courses to show drivers what their passengers experience.
Lee Bo-wen
Taipei public bus association chair
They trade places, allowing the driver to experience what it’s like being a passenger, especially an older passenger. We hope to start from a service approach. We also hope that all our valued passengers can help the drivers out a little by hailing the bus and pressing the stop button.
Creating a pleasant riding experience requires a little effort from everyone, passengers and drivers alike.
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#bus #publicbus #passenger #publictransport #Taipei #elderly #seniors #agedsociety #understanding #safety #trafficsafety #busdrivers
超高齡社會! 首創"公車學院"打造良好乘車環境
2025-11-18
台灣邁入超高齡社會，台北市每日公車乘客數達100萬人，其中24%是高齡長者。但長輩搭車，最擔心站不穩，甚至跌倒，交通局呼籲長輩，把握四大原則，才能安全出門、平安回家。司機端也跟上，首創公車學院，讓駕駛長更能體會乘客處境。一起努力打造良好乘車環境。
公車門一開，乘客一個接一個上車。公車司機貼心的用麥克風，不斷提醒民眾，留意腳步。看到長者好多，司機也特地調降地板，讓長輩們更好上車。
[[公車駕駛長 江志明]]
“我們提醒他的時候，是以防車子有要移動的時候，他們比較能注意安全。（客滿時）老人家大概，佔差不多三成左右。”
台灣進入超高齡社會，台北市245萬市民當中，65歲以上長者，就佔超過23%。台北市公車每日乘客，超過100萬人，使用敬老卡的人數也很多，高達24萬。銀髮族搭大眾運輸出行，最擔心的就是站不穩，甚至因為路況突變，跌倒，釀成意外。
"抓橫桿啊，或者是抓那個手把。"
安全乘車，把握四大原則，上車前要記得招手提醒司機，上下車依序排隊，在車上握緊把手，下車按鈴，等停穩了再起身。北市首創公車學院，今年三月底開辦以來，已經開了10堂課，其中包含兩場實車體驗，讓駕駛長更感同身受乘客處境。
[[台北市公共汽車客運商業同業公會理事長 李博文]]
“換位思考就是說，讓駕駛長變成乘客，讓他體會乘客的感受，尤其是超高齡的乘客。我們希望是說從服務這邊來出發，我們期待每個朋友，就是我們市民朋友，可以給我們駕駛長一個小小幫忙，比如說搭車，你要招招手，下車請按按鈴。”
打造良好乘車環境，需要乘客、司機，一起努力。
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