Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

On his way to the public ancestral worship ceremony at Fude Public Cemetery, Mayor Hau Lung-bin took the free Tomb Sweeping Festival shuttle bus at MRT Taipei Zoo Station to experience the convenience provided by the service. The city government’s Public Transportation Office (PTO) joined hands with Capital Bus Company to arrange free shuttle transportation for passengers traveling to selected public cemeteries during Tomb Sweeping (Chingming) Festival. According to PTO, the City has been offering free tomb sweeping buses for several years. The willingness of residents to take public transportation, combined with effective traffic control measure, help reduce the amount of traffic in the area around Fude Public Cemetery and other public cemeteries served by these temporary routes. PTO pointed out that the tomb sweeping buses was available for a total of 7 days in 2010, starting the weekend before Tomb Sweeping Festival. The agency expects a record number of 600,000 passengers to take advantage of the service this year, showing a significant jump from 540,000 in 2009. Capital Bus Company indicated that it will continue to offer popular services – free coffee, left-luggage desk, and more – at the company’s temporary bus stops. In addition, new low-bottom buses will facilitate travel for elders and individuals with mobility problems, especially during boarding and disembarking.