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After a three-month trial run, the Happiness Bus service in Jiji and Shuili Townships has received an enthusiastic response from residents. On the afternoon of the 5th, the county government held the “Nantou Happiness GO – Shuili and Jiji Official Launch Ceremony” at the Wuchang Temple plaza in Jiji. In the presence of county councilors, local township mayors, village representatives, and residents, County Mayor Hsu Shu-Hua officially announced the launch of the service in both townships. Beginning on the 6th, the Happiness Bus will start regular fare collection. Residents may book rides via the 0800-885-658 hotline, LINE, or through their local village offices. Additional information is available on the “Nantou Happiness GO” platform.

The ceremony opened with a drum performance by Shuili Vocational High School of Commerce and Industry and a cultural performance by elders from the Bazhang community. Notable attendees included County councilors Hsieh Ming-Mou, Wang Chiu-Shu, Huang Chun-Lin, and Chen Shu-Hui; Jiji Township Mayor Wu Da-Cun; Director of Taichung Motor Vehicles Office Yang Tsung-Hsien; and representatives from the offices of Legislators Yu Hao and Ma Wen-Chun, expressing their support for the county’s efforts to improve rural transportation.

Mayor Hsu noted that due to Nantou’s mountainous terrain, many elderly residents rely on family or village officials to travel for groceries, medical rehabilitation, or medication pickup. This lack of mobility often discourages them from leaving home. Since taking office, Mayor Hsu has actively promoted the Happiness Bus 2.0 program. Before the official launch in Jiji and Shuili, a three-month trial period allowed the county to analyze residents’ public transportation habits and make necessary service adjustments. During this trial, the service operated over 3,000 trips and served nearly 10,000 passengers, highlighting the critical need for this policy. Mayor Hsu expressed confidence that the Happiness Bus will be fully deployed across all 13 townships in the county by the end of next year. The fare structure is set at NT$25 per 8-kilometer segment. Trips exceeding the initial 8 km will be charged as a double-segment fare, up to a maximum of three segments. Seniors aged 65 and over are eligible for a half-price fare of NT$13 and may use their Senior Citizen Cards for payment. Mayor Hsu thanked the county council for supporting this initiative, which greatly enhances mobility for elderly residents.

The “Nantou Happiness GO” program first launched in 2024 in Jhushan, Mingjian, and Lugu Townships. This year, the service expanded to Shuili on July 29th and Jiji on August 5th. As of October 31st, the service in these two regions has provided 3,083 trips, transported 9,838 passengers, and covered a total of 44,872 kilometers, averaging more than three passengers per trip. The county aims to complete deployment across all 13 townships by the end of next year. Through this service, Nantou seeks to meaningfully improve transportation access for seniors, students, and residents in rural areas, while making the Happiness Bus an essential mode of rural public transportation.