Ho Chi Minh City bus passenger trips exceed 30.6 million after 3 months of free bus services

The figure indicates continued growth in demand for bus services and reflects residents’ response to the policy supporting public transportation use.

October 1 marked the start of the second phase of the program, under which passengers are required to complete personal verification when using buses.

On the first day of the second phase, the 134 bus routes operated 17,209 trips, carrying 448,250 passengers, or an average of 26 passengers per trip.

The city recorded 475,696 passenger trips on September 25, the highest daily figure since the program began on July 1.

The number of passengers on October 1 was about 42 percent higher than on the same day last year.

To ensure service quality and smooth implementation of the policy, the Public Transport Management Center deployed inspectors at bus terminals, bus stops and shelters, as well as onboard buses.

On October 1 alone, 39 staff members were stationed at the Saigon Bus Station in Ben Thanh Ward to guide passengers through the personal verification process on the first day of the second phase.

The center will continue working with transport operators to provide information and guide passengers through the verification process quickly and conveniently, it said.

It will also closely monitor bus operations to promptly address any problems and improve service quality while encouraging greater use of public transportation.

The more than 30.6 million passenger trips recorded in the first three months mark a notable milestone for the free-bus program, providing further momentum for the bus system to improve services and meet growing travel demand.