Naju City to Pilot 'Naju Call Bus' Service Starting Next Month

Published 21 Aug.2023 14:04(KST)

Naju City in Jeollanam-do will pilot operate the Naju Call Bus, an on-demand public transportation service that operates only within Bitgaram-dong, for six months starting from the 1st of next month.

According to the city on the 21st, the Naju Call Bus was newly introduced as part of the public transportation route reorganization policy of the 8th local government administration, focusing on reducing public transportation subsidies while improving service.

Naju Call Bus. [Photo by Naju City]

The concept of call bus public transportation is the first among local governments in Jeollanam-do.

This bus operates without fixed routes or schedules; when passengers call via an app or call center, it travels the shortest distance to the desired destination (bus stop).

To use the service, passengers can call the bus through the app (Naju Call Bus or Baro DRT) or the call center and board or alight at any of the 71 bus stops within Bitgaram-dong.

The bus has 15 seats (a total of 5 vehicles), and the fare is the same as the existing bus: 1,000 KRW for adults, 700 KRW for youth, and 500 KRW for children. Based on the alighting terminal, up to two transfers are allowed excluding the same route.

Operating hours are from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM, with calls accepted until 10:00 PM.

However, if a passenger cancels a call three times within one hour (including no-shows), a penalty restricting calls for one hour will be applied.

Before the full-scale bus operation, the city plans to hold a bus opening ceremony at 10:00 AM on the 31st at the Bitgaram Observatory parking lot.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “The Naju Call Bus in Bitgaram-dong allows passengers to travel to their destinations as quickly as possible at their desired times rather than fixed bus schedules, making it an innovative public transportation system perfectly suited to the conditions of the innovation city.”

He added, “As the first on-demand public transportation service introduced in the province, we will verify its effectiveness during the pilot operation period and do our best to promote the service and operate it comfortably so that passengers experience no inconvenience.”