New bus line a flop with locals, but that’s expected to change
Print Edition
THE highly promoted Hongqiao Business Zone No. 1 Bus met with a public cold shoulder when it went into operation recently. Most of the buses ran the route completely empty.
The bus line, which links various business buildings in the area, terminates in the Huaxiang Greenbelt.
It was expected to have a large passenger volume because the area not only is one of the largest business zones in the city but is also linked to the Hongqiao Railway Station and Hongqiao International Airport.
Some passengers complained that the intervals between the buses were too long and the stops too few.
“I don’t need the bus very often, but whenever I do, I often have to wait for about 30 minutes,” said Ruan Youdie, a resident living in a neighborhood nearby. “And I don’t know where I can get a timetable for the bus so I can time my presence at my stop.”
Currently, the buses run every 20 minutes during rush hours and 40 minutes for the rest of the day.
Ruan also said the paucity of stops is inconvenient for many passengers.
“For example, from Xinghong Road to Lanhong Road and to Shenkun Road is a very long distance, but there are only three stops,” she said. “If I want to go to somewhere between those points, I need to walk for at least 15 minutes after getting off the bus.”
A driver serving the route, who asked to remain anonymous, said his bus carries about 10 passengers a day, if that.
“The second bus stop, at Xinghong Road near Shenzheng Road, is the destination for most people,” he said. “Most passengers disembark there, leaving no one for the rest of the trip. I can often drive around in an empty bus.”
The driver said the Hong-qiao business district is still largely under construction, which he blames for the empty seats.
“The route and stops will be adjusted once construction is completed and more companies settle down here,” said the driver..
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