1. Riding a bus story in YeongCheon 🚌: Schedule

YeongCheon is equipped with a public bus system, which has shown considerable improvements in recent years. The current bus system differs from what I initially encountered in YeongCheon. One persistent concern, however, pertains to the bus schedules. There appears to be a discrepancy between the schedules displayed at individual bus stops and the timetable available on the main YeongCheon bus online platform. These schedules often do not align with the actual bus operations.

I have frequently encountered situations where bus services did not adhere to the online timetable. Although I am aware that more precise timetables are provided at each bus stop, I find them rather complex to decipher. These timetables are generally divided into two sections: one for weekdays and another for weekends, national holidays, and school vacations, though their accuracy can occasionally be a point of concern.

I have observed instances where some buses do not adhere to the published timetable, and certain timetables appear to be outdated or do not reflect recent changes in the bus system. The weekend schedule, which includes national holidays, Saturdays, Sundays, and school vacations, is particularly complex.

The school vacation timetable is integrated into the weekday schedule, specifically for school vacation periods. I recall inquiring with a bus driver about the school vacation schedule, and he informed me that it no longer existed, yet vacation timetables continue to be displayed at bus stops under the weekend schedule category. This was the case even a year ago when I last asked a driver about the school vacation timetable, and it was indicated that it no longer existed. Additionally, I remain uncertain about how other buses operate during school vacation periods.

One of the most inconvenient aspects of riding a bus, even in the central area of Yeongcheon, is the uncertainty surrounding its arrival time. This becomes an even greater concern for bus riders traveling to rural areas of Yeongcheon. On one occasion, I had the opportunity to visit a rural village to participate in a children’s program. My primary worry was the lack of a reliable timetable.

Furthermore, the timetables displayed at actual bus stops often proved to be untrustworthy. This prompted me to consult the bus timetable at its origin, the Yeongcheon bus terminal, where I took a photograph of it. My experience confirmed that this schedule was accurate. Had it not been, I would not have been able to join the program with the children.

An additional complexity arises when returning to a central location from rural areas by bus. Once you venture into a rural area using public transportation, it is crucial to plan your return journey carefully. There are often fewer return options compared to outbound routes. Moreover, reaching your final destination from the bus stop in rural areas often involves walking along roads that differ significantly from paved urban streets.

It appears that the unreliability of online and offline timetables may be a contributing factor to individuals opting for the 55 and 555 buses, which are the most frequent, operating approximately every 10 minutes. Furthermore, the routes for the 55 and 555 buses are consistently maintained and extend to Daegu.

It seems that Yeongcheon’s bus system may not be particularly accommodating for visitors, as it appears to be a more insular system that requires a significant amount of time and experience to navigate effectively. I can personally attest to having gained knowledge of certain bus routes through my own experiences, particularly since my children began attending elementary school and relying on the bus for their daily commute. It seems that understanding the bus system here is largely a matter of accumulated experience over time.

I had previously believed that issues with unknown timetables were primarily a concern for smaller cities. However, about a year ago, I had the opportunity to visit Milyang, which has a population of approximately 100,000 people, similar in size to Yeongcheon. I anticipated a potentially unclear bus schedule, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that departure times were clearly displayed. Furthermore, on my return journey to Milyang train station by bus, the expected arrival times for each bus were shown at my waiting location. The Milyang bus timetable provides information on bus schedules and estimated travel times to various bus stops. It would be beneficial to display a simpler timetable for visitors. Yeongcheon’s public bus system appears to be designed for local residents who frequently use the bus.