Former Kaohsiung lawmaker finds bus driving “deeply therapeutic”

Wu Yi-cheng spent 20 years as a Kaohsiung city councilor. After losing his bid for re-election in 2022, he pursued a childhood interest by learning to drive a full-size passenger bus.

The former five-term councilor, who served from 2002 to 2022 and represented the Taiwan People's Party in Kaohsiung's 2020 mayoral by-election, took the wheel for a one-day driving assignment. Chunghwa Post and Kaohsiung Bus invited him to participate in an “AI understands choices” smart-consumption event. His passengers included Chunghwa Post chairman Wang Kuo-tsai, Kaohsiung Bus chairman Lai Wen-tai and members of the public.

Wu said he had been fascinated by railways, buses and large vehicles since childhood. After stepping away from elected office, he had more free time, so he obtained a license and trained to drive a large bus. “Driving a large bus is basically deeply therapeutic,” he said, describing the experience as a return to the childhood dream of playing with toy vehicles.

The experience also showed him that bus driving is not easy. Wu said existing roads often create problems for large vehicles, including right turns that bring buses close to sidewalks and may require them to take part of the opposite lane. He called for road designs that leave more space for safer turns.

He also criticized drivers who stop illegally in bus bays, forcing buses to stop alongside traffic. Wu pointed to London as an example where vehicles occupying bus stops can be photographed and fined. He said public transport should receive more priority in cities. Kaohsiung Bus, which faces a labor shortage, allowed him to train, but he said he did not yet have a regular schedule.

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Driving a large bus is basically deeply therapeutic.