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Taipei honors star bus and taxi drivers

Lin Chien-ru (林建儒) became a bus driver because he did not want a nine-to-five job, and his patience and passion for his job has made him popular with passengers.

Lin, 37, who always asks younger passengers to give up their seats to elderly passengers via the PA system on his bus, was one of 153 bus drivers and taxi drivers who won the Golden Wheel Award presented by the Taipei City Government yesterday for their professionalism as public transportation drivers.

“Being a bus driver allows me to meet different people and gives me the chance to help others,” Lin said during the award ceremony at Taipei City Hall.

Driving along the same route for the past seven years, Lin has befriended many passengers.

He brought one drunk passenger back to the bus station so that he could get some rest and recover, and always makes sure elderly and disabled passengers are seated before driving off from bus stops.

“Some students or young people love to occupy the priority seats and pretend to be asleep when those who are in need get on the bus. I use my microphone to tell them to stop sleeping and give the seats to others,” he said.

In addition to their friendliness to passengers, Lin and other Golden Wheel Award winners were recognized for their excellent driving records with no traffic accidents or violations in the last three years.

Another Golden Wheel winner Hung Chi-fu (洪麒馥), who has been a taxi driver for 22 years, said female drivers faced danger, especially when dealing with drunk passengers. On the other hand, many passengers have trusted her more than a male driver and preferred to take her taxi.

Addressing the ceremony, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said the city government will continue giving public recognition to excellent drivers to improve the quality of public transportation in the city.
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