ChinaUrban Bus Travel: More Flexible Services, More Considerate Care
CCTV.com news (Xinwen Lianbo): More than 100 million passenger trips are made on urban buses in China every day. Since the beginning of this year, many localities have been making bus travel more efficient and flexible through targeted reforms such as on-demand services and last-mile connections.
央视网消息（新闻联播）：每天，我国有超1亿人次通过城市公交出行。今年以来，多地正通过按需服务、末端接驳等精细化改革，让公交出行更高效、更灵活。
Since the beginning of this year, China's urban bus services have been accelerating their shift toward on-demand service. In Suzhou, Jiangsu, many passengers have noticed signs on bus windows and handrails reading, “This bus does not stop at every stop. Please ring the bell to get off.” If there are no passengers waiting at a stop and no one on board rings the bell, the bus slows down and passes through.
今年以来，我国城市公交正加快向按需服务转变。在江苏苏州，不少乘客发现在公交车车窗、扶手上都贴有“不是站站停，下车请按铃”的提示。站点无候车乘客，车内无乘客按铃，车辆便减速通过。
This innovative model reduces the number of stops and starts on each bus trip by approximately 10%. So far, more than 30 cities nationwide have adopted this model.
这种创新模式让车跑一趟，启停频次减少约10%。截至目前，全国已有30余座城市推行这种模式。
Meanwhile, last-mile bus connections are rapidly developing into networks. Guangdong, Sichuan and other localities have introduced routes such as metro feeder minibuses and industrial park buses, featuring “short distances, frequent service and flexible dispatching,” to promote seamless connections for the final leg of journeys.
与此同时，公交末端接驳加快成网。广东、四川等地以“短距离、快频次、灵调度”为特色，开通地铁微巴、园区巴士等线路，推动末端出行无缝衔接。
Last-mile connections make journeys smoother, while age-friendly services make travel more caring. For elderly passengers and passengers with limited mobility, the “warmth” of a bus service is often found in the height of its steps, whether its handrails feel cold or warm, and the driver's reminders.
末端接驳让出行更顺畅，适老化服务则让出行更有温度。对老年乘客和行动不便的乘客来说，公交的“温度”往往藏在踏板高度、扶手冷暖和司机叮嘱里。
Changes in urban bus services are reflected not only in operating models but also in institutional reforms. Since the beginning of this year, Tianjin has adjusted 284 bus routes through reforms to cost and performance management and the restructuring and optimization of its route network, accounting for approximately half of the routes in the central urban area.
不只在运营模式上，城市公交的变化也体现在机制改革中。今年以来，天津通过成本绩效管理改革和线网重构优化，调整284条公交线路，约占中心城区线路一半。
The Ministry of Transport stated that, going forward, megacities, super-large cities and large cities with established rail transit networks will accelerate the development of public transport systems with rail transit as the backbone and buses as the foundation. Large cities where rail transit has yet to form a network will build layered bus networks comprising express, trunk, feeder and micro routes. Small and medium-sized cities will fully use buses to ensure basic travel needs for groups such as older people and those on low incomes.
交通运输部表示，未来，在超大特大城市和轨道交通成网的大城市，将加快构建以轨道交通为骨干、公交为基础的公共交通系统；轨道交通未成网的大城市，构建快干支微分层布局的公交网络；中小城市充分发挥公交对老年人、低收入群体等的基本出行保障作用。
Entities in this story
Reported events 4
ReportedRoute adjustmentDate not specified+
Tianjin has adjusted 284 bus routes since the beginning of this year.
Changes in urban bus services are reflected not only in operating models but also in institutional reforms. Since the beginning of this year, Tianjin has adjusted 284 bus routes through reforms to cost and performance management and the restructuring and optimization of its route network, accounting for approximately half of the routes in the central urban area.Original Chinese quote
今年以来，天津通过成本绩效管理改革和线网重构优化，调整284条公交线路Ongoing at time of reportTransport service reformDate not specified+
Suzhou buses use a system in which they slow down and pass a stop if no one is waiting and no one has pressed the stop-request bell; more than 30 cities nationwide have adopted this approach.
This innovative model reduces the number of stops and starts on each bus trip by approximately 10%. So far, more than 30 cities nationwide have adopted this model.Original Chinese quote
截至目前，全国已有30余座城市推行这种模式。ReportedTransport service launchDate not specified+
Guangdong, Sichuan and other places have launched last-mile feeder routes, including metro minibuses and buses serving industrial parks.
Meanwhile, last-mile bus connections are rapidly developing into networks. Guangdong, Sichuan and other localities have introduced routes such as metro feeder minibuses and industrial park buses, featuring “short distances, frequent service and flexible dispatching,” to promote seamless connections for the final leg of journeys.Original Chinese quote
广东、四川等地以“短距离、快频次、灵调度”为特色，开通地铁微巴、园区巴士等线路ReportedTransport policy statementDate not specified+
The Ministry of Transport proposed developing public transport systems suited to the differing conditions of individual cities.
The Ministry of Transport stated that, going forward, megacities, super-large cities and large cities with established rail transit networks will accelerate the development of public transport systems with rail transit as the backbone and buses as the foundation. Large cities where rail transit has yet to form a network will build layered bus networks comprising express, trunk, feeder and micro routes. Small and medium-sized cities will fully use buses to ensure basic travel needs for groups such as older people and those on low incomes.Original Chinese quote
交通运输部表示，未来，在超大特大城市和轨道交通成网的大城市，将加快构建以轨道交通为骨干、公交为基础的公共交通系统