Nantou County has begun installing smart bus shelters in Nantou City, Caotun Township, and Puli Township this year, with a total of 10 smart shelters and 6 smart bus signs completed. These facilities provide real-time bus arrival and estimated waiting times, and feature a “boarding request button” that eliminates the need for passengers to step onto the road to flag down a bus, offering a safer waiting environment.

The county government has been working to upgrade and build bus shelters, completing 10 smart bus shelters and 6 smart bus signs this year. An inauguration ceremony for the new shelter at the “Daguan” stop on Zhongzheng Road in Caotun Township was held today. County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua attended the event and noted that the smart shelter’s real-time information board is powered by solar panels, supporting environmentally sustainable goals.

Hsu explained that the smart shelters provide rain protection, seating, and lighting, as well as the new “boarding request button.” If passengers wish to board, they can press the button inside the shelter to activate a light. Bus drivers can then see the signal before reaching the stop, removing the need for passengers to run out and wave as the bus approaches, thereby reducing the risk of traffic accidents. At least 28 more smart shelters or bus signs are expected to be added next year, and she called on village and borough chiefs to help secure suitable locations to accelerate the installation of smart bus facilities.

Wang Cheng-da, Director of the Traffic Management Division under the Public Works Department, said that beginning last year, the county reviewed bus route usage and evaluated passenger volume at stops to plan the construction of smart shelters and smart bus signs. This year, 10 smart shelters and 6 smart signs have been installed across Nantou City, Caotun Township, and Puli Township, with the Daguan stop featuring a design inspired by local cultural elements.

Source: Central News Agency (CNA) / Reporter Hsiao Po-yang / November 19, 2025