Icheon City Completes Test-Ride Event for Route-Based Eco-Friendly Low-Floor TOCK Bus

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Um In-yong] Icheon City held a test-ride ceremony on the 12th at Icheon City Hall Plaza commemorating the addition of 2 route-based TOCK buses in the urban area, attended by Mayor Kim Gyung-hee, Park Myung-seo, Chairman of the Icheon City Council, provincial and city council members, and major civic organization leaders.

The test-ride ceremony was organized to allow participants to directly experience the newly introduced route-based TOCK buses and to introduce their operation methods and services, serving as an opportunity to enhance understanding and interest in the service.

Participants directly test-rode the added route-based TOCK buses (D13·D14), experiencing the usage procedures including operation times, major bus stop information, and booking methods, and showed great interest in the convenience and improved accessibility of the TOCK buses.

The newly introduced route-based TOCK buses are 25-seat eco-friendly mid-size electric low-floor buses with improved transport capacity compared to existing TOCK buses, accommodating 16 seats with additional standing room.

Citizens can conveniently reserve rides through the call app 'TOCK Taxi,' and for citizens who have difficulty using smartphones, a phone call service (☎1688-0181) is also provided.

With this addition of route-based TOCK buses, a total of 24 buses are now operating (14 in the urban area, 7 in Janghowon, 3 in Yulmyeon), and 3 additional buses in Sindun and 5 in Majang are scheduled to be introduced in November.

Meanwhile, Icheon City's TOCK bus service operates by reorganizing inefficient urban bus routes while activating hope taxis in transportation-neglected areas, achieving 500 million won in budget savings. The service received the prestigious Grand Prize at the Gyeonggi Province Active Administration Competition held at the end of August.

Mayor Kim Gyung-hee stated, "This test-ride ceremony was an opportunity to directly introduce the urban area's route-based TOCK buses to citizens and to experience more convenient public transportation services," and added, "Going forward, we will strengthen citizen convenience through continuous improvement of the transportation system."