Taichung's 'Happy Bus' and taxi buses face low ridership, audit office demands improvements

An audit of Taichung's public transportation services has highlighted significant issues with low passenger loads on some 'Happy Bus' and taxi bus routes. The Taichung Audit Office has formally requested the city's Transportation Bureau to implement improvements, pointing to persistently high empty seat rates.

The audit specifically noted that while the average empty seat rate for taxi buses has decreased from 64.40% in 2023 to 45.59% in 2025, AI analysis revealed eight routes, including Huang 3, still exceed a 60% empty seat rate. This high rate means these routes are not eligible for central government operating subsidies, prompting the audit office to urge the bureau to develop countermeasures.

Furthermore, the audit found that two of the seven 'Happy Buses' operating in the Lishan area are nearing their 10-year replacement deadline. The audit office recommended proactive measures to address vehicle replacement and ensure continued service safety. The Transportation Bureau stated it would increase community outreach and surveys to better understand needs and boost passenger numbers. Regarding the buses nearing retirement, one driver has offered to personally cover replacement costs, and the bureau will coordinate with past donors who provided two 'Happy Buses'.

The audit also examined the operational efficiency of the 'Happy Bus' flexible routes. While fixed-route empty seat rates have fallen from 33.10% in 2022 to 12.51% in 2025, the average number of passengers per flexible trip has hovered between 1.77 and 2.17. Analysis of booking data from January to October 2025 showed that out of 5,682 reservations, 4,871 (85.73%) were successful. Notably, 4,361 of these bookings (89.53%) were for single passengers, indicating a need for the bureau to guide operators in improving passenger load utilization.