Bus route uses modern tech to keep in touch

Passengers on bus route No 1 in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, have the chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way－both on the bus itself, and online in a WeChat group.

Yang Ling, 27, is the youngest driver on the route. She is something of a shutterbug and enjoys taking photos of the city in her spare time, particularly photos related to buses, and especially the route she drives.

There are 21 stops on the 12.75-kilometer bus route, which has been in operation since 1929.

"No 1 is the earliest bus route in Wuhan and makes a lot of stops at historical locations," she said. "I'm trying to connect passengers to the route as well as to the city's history with my photos."

As she drives the same route every day, Yang feels she has become an excellent observer of the daily changes in the city.

"Wuhan is famous for its bridges," she said. "I like photographing them in different seasons and at different times of the day."

Whenever Yang shares her photos in the passenger group on WeChat, she receives warm responses and praise. She also does her best to make her passengers feel welcome on the bus. "In fact, the chat group was set up to allow passengers to look for lost objects, or make suggestions or complaints," she said. "Our aim is to improve service by communicating with passengers."

When Yang read one passenger's complaint about being splashed with dirty water by a passing car while waiting for the bus one rainy day, she immediately posted a suggestion to the group advising her colleagues to avoid similar situations and pull up close to the bus stop so that passengers could get on and get off more conveniently.

Yang has received a number of awards for outstanding service since she started driving the route in November 2018. One day in May last year, a young woman on the bus suddenly fainted as she was walking down the aisle, so Yang helped her to her seat.

She found out that the woman was two months pregnant and was going to the hospital for a checkup. "Pregnant women need more attention," she said. "As a bus driver, it's my duty to ensure their safety from the moment they get on the bus."

It wasn't easy for Yang, who is still single, to identify women in early pregnancy.

"Every time the bus passes two of the city's big hospitals, I observe the female passengers carefully," she said. "I have found that pregnant women often stand further away from passengers in front of them and try to protect their stomachs."

When pregnant passengers are boarding, she keeps the doors open for longer and suggests to other passengers that they offer them their seats. She also bought green wristbands to give to pregnant passengers, so when other drivers see a woman wearing one, they know to be more careful with her during the trip. "I have sent out 20 wristbands and have received great support from my colleagues," she said.

Yang has put a small box in the bus with masks, disposable raincoats, plastic bags and other emergency medical supplies for passengers.

"Sometimes, these small things can be important to those who need them," she said.

Yang always waits patiently for elderly passengers, helping them swipe their bus cards and carry any heavy or large belongings they have.

"On Nov 26, one elderly woman sent some fruit and a handwritten note to the dispatch office to thank me for helping her carry a heavy bag onto the bus," she said. "In fact, our drivers and company have a long history of helping others, especially passengers. It's one source of happiness for me as a bus driver."