Korean Job Discussion Forums

[the saint]

I'm having a hard time trying to decipher the messages all over the bus windows and bus stop signs that tell me something ominous is going to occur on July the 1st.

Anyone else know more details about the changes and, more to the point, WHY this is all being done just as I have got the hang of the buses ????


title updated by kangnamdragon

[dutchman]

I don't ride the bus so I don't really care too much. But as a driver the changes started about 4 months ago when they started building these stupid bus stops in the middle of the roads. They've now created five new bottlenecks on my commute to work.

[azalea]

The following information is from the seoul metropolitan government web site. For more information visit this web site at : http://english.seoul.go.kr/today/news/traffic/index.html

"The Seoul Metropolitan Government is to operate newly designed buses on the newly adjusted routes as of July 1, 2004. New bus stop signs are more easily recognizable than the current ones, which are expected to be colorized according to the type of city buses: Blue, Green, Red and Yellow. The following is a detailed description of each bus.

Blue Bus: This type of buses will operate at higher speeds and access the median bus lane connecting suburban areas to downtown Seoul. The city government is partly in charge of its operation. The city has taken full consideration to introduce 3 kinds of buses belonging to the Blue Bus category: bendable bus, CNG (compressed natural gas) bus with a lower platform, and regular large-sized CNG bus. The blue color represents Seoul's skyline and Hangang (River) to symbolize security and freedom.

Green Bus: Green bus will be flexibly operated by private bus companies, to connect major subway stations or bus terminals in downtown Seoul. It is similar with the city bus and the community shuttle bus currently in operation. Green stands for the mountains surrounding the city.

Red Bus: The red buses will be express buses designed specially for those commuting between downtown Seoul and the metropolitan area. The color red exudes energy of speed.

Yellow Bus: This bus will circle downtown Seoul and stop at stations for blue buses and major railway stations, as well as business, tourist and shopping areas. Yellow was selected for its dynamic and friendly image".

The new bus service lines can now be seen on the website, http://bus.seoul.go.kr.

The city had the map of modified routes made public on June 7, and the bus routes can be searched by administrative unit or by bus number.

Also, when an old bus number or route is inputted, a newly modified route can be found that closely follows the old line.

The website also features a function which finds the shortest route offered, including the subway, along with the estimated travel time when the point of departure and the destination are entered.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Holyjoe]

Think the fare systems are being changed too, to a distance-related one rather than a flat fare.

Not too sure about that one, though.

[Mercer Cheese]

[Mankind]

Yes the colors are changing but that ain't the biggy.

Many routes are changing and many buses are either being cancelled or are having there numbers changed. It's going to be a total cluster *beep* is my guess. For those that frequent Itaewon lots of changes in the buses that go there. Basically the government wants you to transfer more or use the subway. Of course since transfers in Korea are basically a double fare the gov't rakes in the cash. Nice.

HAND

[noelinkorea]

Am I the only one who has noticed that the "red" buses are only red on the poster - they are more like orange in actual fact, but they have the very useful "R" on the side to tell me otherwise...or did they misspell the word 'orange'?

[panthermodern]

[noelinkorea]

they are very basic colours that are easily distinguished from one another...I don't know why they need the official "E: Life Story" on the bus exteriors...I am just happy that the police seem to actually be doing something and are keepig the cars, etc off the crossings...

[dutchman]

[kangnamdragon]

[Mankind]

[kangnamdragon]

100 won is a lot of money to some of us

[the saint]