Improving Indigenous Community Commute Quality: Miaoli County Tai'an Township's Happy Bus Introduces New Vehicles
Miaoli County's Tai'an Township launched two new Class B large passenger vehicles for its "Happy Bus" service, supported by the Ministry of Transportation's Directorate General of Highways. This initiative aims to improve transportation safety and service quality for residents in remote indigenous communities.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 17:03
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 17:33 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 17:56 (23 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Kuan Rui-ping, Miaoli County 6th) Miaoli County's Tai'an Township "Happy Bus" has received subsidies from the Ministry of Transportation's Directorate General of Highways to replace old vehicles. Two newly purchased Class B large passenger vehicles were activated today, operating on the "South Three Line" and "North Five Line" to improve transportation safety and service quality for remote indigenous communities.
The Tai'an Township Office stated that Tai'an Township has long been restricted by mountainous terrain, making inter-village transportation inconvenient, and residents highly depend on public transport. As existing bus operators ceased operations due to losses, the indigenous communities once faced the risk of public transport service disruption.
The Township Office has promoted community shuttle bus services since 2016 and gradually upgraded them to the "Happy Bus" project, now in its 10th year, becoming an indispensable means of transportation for villagers to seek medical attention, conduct public affairs, and for students to commute.
The Township Office said that with the assistance of the Miaoli County Government and the Hsinchu District Motor Vehicles Office of the Ministry of Transportation, they successfully secured subsidies from the Directorate General of Highways for vehicle replacement. This year, two new medium-sized buses were purchased and officially put into operation on the existing "Tai'an Township Happy Bus - Basic Public Transportation" South Three Line and North Five Line, serving various villages in Tai'an Township and comprehensively improving driving safety and riding comfort.
The Township Office pointed out that the "South Three Line" connects villagers from the South Three Villages, with routes往返 between Tian'gou indigenous community and Zhuolan Township, and can connect to Taichung City Bus Route 253 (Dongshi-Shilin Village). It operates 4 daily services on weekdays, with the 3rd service being reservation-based. The "North Five Line" connects villagers from the North Five Villages, operating 5 branch routes connecting Jinshui, Bagua, Qing'an, Daping, Daxing, Zhongxing, and other areas, and connecting to Dahu urban area for medical and living facilities.
The Hsinchu District Motor Vehicles Office stated that the Directorate General of Highways promotes sustainable public transportation and transportation equity programs, and has already implemented Happy Buses in 10 townships and cities in Miaoli County. They will continue to improve the road network in remote areas and expand the Happy Bus service scope to implement transportation justice. In addition, the Tai'an Township Happy Bus charges are paid by the Township Office, and there are no distance or riding frequency limits, encouraging the public to make full use of it. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150506
(Central News Agency reporter Kuan Rui-ping, Miaoli County 6th) Miaoli County's Tai'an Township "Happy Bus" has received subsidies from the Ministry of Transportation's Directorate General of Highways to replace old vehicles. Two newly purchased Class B large passenger vehicles were activated today, operating on the "South Three Line" and "North Five Line" to improve transportation safety and service quality for remote indigenous communities.
The Tai'an Township Office stated that Tai'an Township has long been restricted by mountainous terrain, making inter-village transportation inconvenient, and residents highly depend on public transport. As existing bus operators ceased operations due to losses, the indigenous communities once faced the risk of public transport service disruption.
The Township Office has promoted community shuttle bus services since 2016 and gradually upgraded them to the "Happy Bus" project, now in its 10th year, becoming an indispensable means of transportation for villagers to seek medical attention, conduct public affairs, and for students to commute.
The Township Office said that with the assistance of the Miaoli County Government and the Hsinchu District Motor Vehicles Office of the Ministry of Transportation, they successfully secured subsidies from the Directorate General of Highways for vehicle replacement. This year, two new medium-sized buses were purchased and officially put into operation on the existing "Tai'an Township Happy Bus - Basic Public Transportation" South Three Line and North Five Line, serving various villages in Tai'an Township and comprehensively improving driving safety and riding comfort.
The Township Office pointed out that the "South Three Line" connects villagers from the South Three Villages, with routes往返 between Tian'gou indigenous community and Zhuolan Township, and can connect to Taichung City Bus Route 253 (Dongshi-Shilin Village). It operates 4 daily services on weekdays, with the 3rd service being reservation-based. The "North Five Line" connects villagers from the North Five Villages, operating 5 branch routes connecting Jinshui, Bagua, Qing'an, Daping, Daxing, Zhongxing, and other areas, and connecting to Dahu urban area for medical and living facilities.
The Hsinchu District Motor Vehicles Office stated that the Directorate General of Highways promotes sustainable public transportation and transportation equity programs, and has already implemented Happy Buses in 10 townships and cities in Miaoli County. They will continue to improve the road network in remote areas and expand the Happy Bus service scope to implement transportation justice. In addition, the Tai'an Township Happy Bus charges are paid by the Township Office, and there are no distance or riding frequency limits, encouraging the public to make full use of it. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150506