Buses in Seoul Normalize Nighttime after 22:00 on weekdays
- Normalization of night operations on weekdays will begin on priority 71 routes with high traffic congestion starting from 4.5 (Monday).
- Routes with high passengers and confusion are implemented sequentially and selectively...Route where the congestion in the night car is 80% or more and more than 3 days occur.
- Since March, the number of customers and confusion has increased due to distance adjustment...Response to demand for citizens' safety and convenience
- City, "Cooperation in quarantine rules is still required to keep public transportation social distance...Citizens are invited to participate."
□ The Seoul Metropolitan Government will normalize the operation of city buses on weekdays (after 22:00~) reduction, which is being implemented as a second-phase measure to ease the risk of Korona 19 infection and promote convenience for citizens.
□ The city is expected to selectively operate normal weekday night hours (after 22:00~) depending on the congestion level of the city bus starting from 4.5 (Monday), and to cope with the demand for transportation due to improved congestion and increased passenger traffic.
□ In order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by reducing night traffic, the city bus service has been reduced by up to 20 percent since November 24 (Tuesday) last year.
○ Starting from November 24, when the "10 million citizens stop period" takes effect, the operation has been conducted since 22:00, and the timing, seasonal, and seasonal factors of the spread of Corona 19 have been carefully considered to strengthened quarantine and response.
□ However, since March, the number and congestion of some routes during the late-night hours of weekdays have increased due to the easing of business restrictions.
○ The number and congestion of passengers are continuously monitored on a weekly basis according to the reduction operation from November 24 to 22:00, and the analysis showed that the number of passengers has increased significantly since March this year.
□ Accordingly, out of the 356 Seoul city buses currently being reduced, 71 routes that "more than 80% of the congestion in cars occurs more than three days a week after 22:00" will be selected and sequentially normalized.
○ Compared to the time when 30% reduction was implemented due to the application of the 2.5 social distance phase, the average number of passengers and congestion increased during the late-night hours on weekdays after 22:00 in the second stage.
○ The standard for normalization of operation is that the congestion rate during the reduction operation time is 80% (36 passengers) or more, and when congestion occurs for more than three days per week.
□ The city plans to conduct continuous monitoring in the future to review selective and sequential normalization of routes that cause confusion.
○ The government plans to monitor the number of passengers and the level of congestion from time to time and review the normalization of night operations on weekdays.
○ In the case of routes that maintain congestion of less than 80% during weekdays, reduced operation will be carried out after 22:00 to keep social distance, but frequent monitoring will be conducted to review the trend of passenger growth and normalization of weekday night operations.
○ It also actively supports late-night and rush hour movements through the operation of Owl Bus and Squirrel Bus, Seoul's representative demand-response public transportation service.
□ Noh Byung-chun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's bus policy division, said, "As the level of social distancing and normalization of economic activities continue to increase the number of bus passengers on weekdays." "In order to prevent the spread of the infection, we still need cooperation on quarantine guidelines, such as early return and restraint from unnecessary movement, so we ask for your active participation and cooperation."
