Free buses for workers: more convenient routes needed

The main purpose of putting free buses at industrial zones in Bien Hoa city is to diminish traffic jam in places congested with traffic participants, including industrial zones. After coming into operation over one month, as reported by buses drivers, traffic jam reduction effectiveness has been relatively noticeable. The number of workers at Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 2 and Amata Industrial Zone riding bikes and driving motorbikes to work has declined remarkably, especially those working in office time.    

Moreover, advantages that workers get by taking free buses to work has been enormous. For workers who are motorbike drivers, they can save a big amount of money for gas, helping them save their low salary. For workers who used to ride bikes to work moved to free buses, they have been happy for saving a lot of time. Tran Thi Tuyen, a Plus company worker, Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 2, eagerly told us, “Previously I went to work by motorbike, so by the end of month I run out of money for gas. Now free buses help me not worried about gas expense, and monthly I save about VND200,000”.

Free buses catch Amata Industrial Zone workers.

Formerly, a lot of workers went to work by public buses that only move on big streets, so they have to go a long distance to go into the industrial zones. Free bus routes recently has been very convenient and economical for workers.

According to bus routes, buses work in three turns in accordance with set time, from 5:30 to 6:50 in the morning, 1:20 to 2:25 in the afternoon, 3:50 to 4:30 in the lat afternoon. According to this regulation, in the morning, the timetable matches the time when workers go to work, even for sip 1 and office shift; therefore, participants are crowded and there are not enough spaces for them in all buses.

However, As reported by bus drivers and workers, the afternoon timetable is not suitable, because workers are working in the companies at that time. Not many workers go to work in shift 2, so participants in the afternoon are not many. In the late afternoon, the timetable is not suitable, either. If workers work in the office time, they finish work at 4:30. Those who work overtime and in shift 2, most of them finish shift at 6.

The bus driver Nguyen Khac Hanh for amata Industrial Zone says, “We are willing to serve workers to the best of my ability. If masters adjust timetable to be more appropriate to workers, I think, there will be much more participants”.    

Hoang Thi Thanh, a Taiwang worker, Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 2, says, “I know about these free buses in industrial parks. I really want to participate due to not having enough conditions to buy motorbikes. My house is far away form work place; therefore, riding bikes to work is really hard. But, all buses work at the time that not fit my work timetable. In the late afternoon, I work until 6 when buses stop one hour before”. A lot of people are very sorry for not able to take these buses, especially when they know that they are absolutely free.   

Timetable on bus signs is not suitable.

Some other workers work in different companies in the industrial zones and distance between companies is large, so many feel not convenient. Sometimes, drivers have to satisfy passengers’ need of arriving in the company gate. Some workers want to go into industrial zones, especially bike riders, but there is not parking in front of industrial zones, so that remains an obstacle.

Free buses for workers have been in trial operation in the first three months. To reduce significantly traffic jam and contribute to income stability for workers, buses need a more suitable routes in order to have more and more workers participating in this useful public transport.   

Reported by Ha Giang, translated by Hoai Thu.