News Brief
By Wang Qingwei
Since July 10, citizens living near the Xixi area in Hangzhou can reserve the 1306M bus online or offline for 1 RMB. This is the second bookable line following last year’s 7170M bus, which could be reserved through mobile phones, marking a milestone in the “Cloud Bus 2.0” initiative.
To make reservations for the buses, passengers at the bus stop only need to swipe their IC cards, including the senior card, student card, courtesy card, and Hangzhou Citizen Card, and click the reservation button on the POS machine. This system is designed to be convenient for both senior residents and children. After booking, the bus’s plate number, distance, and waiting time can be checked on the POS machine’s screen, and the passengers will be picked up within 10 minutes.
The 1306M bus used to be a metro-centered line, operating only in the morning and evening on weekdays to cater to the needs of busy commuters. However, a survey by Hangzhou Public Transport indicated a demand for service beyond rush hours. For instance, elderly citizens need to take their grandchildren to interest-oriented classes in the afternoon, and students want to enjoy their summer holidays at bookstores.
Therefore, more buses are now available from 11 am to 4 pm on weekdays at three popular stations—Qianbafang, Beijiaqiao Jiangcun, and Jiangcun Metro Station, to increase the utilization rate of the 1306M bus and bring significant convenience to residents.