Special day honors Shanghai's bus drivers
Shanghai Jiushi Bus Group held an express-your-love event for drivers on Wednesday, the city’s first Bus Caring Day.
May 20, a Chinese equivalent of Valentines’ Day because it sounds similar to “I love you” in Chinese, was chosen by the group as a day to honor drivers who had dedicated themselves to serving the city, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During a ceremony at the Caoxi Road bus transport hub, the public took part in activities that included writing blessing cards and and forming fan clubs to thank frontline drivers.
There are around 60,000 bus staff in Shanghai, of whom over 32,000 are drivers serving more than 5 million passengers a day.
The company has been implementing measures over the years to improve their working conditions.
Drivers are provided with affordable accommodation and convenient commuting methods as well as a fund for health care and education, benefiting over 18,000 workers in the past three years.
New smart buses were introduced lately, with functions including non-contact temperature monitoring to assist drivers and ensure passenger safety.
Zhang Biwei, the bus group’s manager, said he hoped the event would encourage the public to be more respectful and understanding of bus drivers.
“We will receive this care with gratitude and continue to provide safer and more enjoyable trips for our passengers,” Zhang said.
A bus at Caoxi Road Station was specially decked out in the theme of "I love you" on Wednesday.
The interior of the 520-themed bus in celebration of the first Bus Caring Day
Visitors are seen taking a selfie in front of the Bus Caring Day Wall.
A passenger adds her sincere wishes to the love message board for bus drivers on May 20.
