Capital Bus (都市客運) was rated the top bus company in Taipei yesterday in terms of service and vehicle condition, according to a report by the Taipei City Government.
Capital Bus received a score of 92.6 points to win the title for the 10th consecutive time in the rankings by the Taipei City Bureau of Transportation aimed at monitoring bus services in Taipei.
Bureau of Transportation Director Lin Chih-ying (林志盈) said that Capital Bus is considered by many Taipei residents as the best bus company in the city, not only because its buses are newer and cleaner, but more importantly because its drivers, who are required to wear ties and freshly ironed white shirts, do not treat the passengers rudely.
Capital Bus is also the only bus company in Taipei to require that its drivers wear small microphones while on duty to announce the name of every stop along their routes, enabling passengers to know where they are.
In recent months, some Capital drivers on certain routes have also been announcing the name of every stop in English.
Drivers with Capital Bus have registered the highest rate of enrollment in English conversation lessons that have been offered by the Taipei City Drivers' Training Center.
An official of Capital attributed the keen interest demonstrated by the company's bus drivers to several factors, including that Capital offers paid leave to those who enroll in the classes, as well as paying their tuition and providing a small allowance to give them the feeling that "they are not on their own" and have the company's support.
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