By KHT Staff. Image via KH City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — At the start of this month, the Kaohsiung City Transportation Bureau (高雄市政府交通局) launched a municipal health initiative that introduced professional massage services at bus dispatch stations to reduce driver fatigue and enhance public transit safety.
The program deploys visually impaired massage therapists to 14 bus stations across the city. Running through the end of December 2026, the initiative is scheduled to provide an estimated 490 free sessions during work breaks and between shifts to combat the physical stress and shoulder injuries associated with long driving hours. Municipal authorities stated the project serves a dual purpose by improving driver concentration as a measure of preventive safety while simultaneously creating stable employment opportunities for visually impaired professionals.
According to the Kaohsiung City Bus Joint Management Committee, the substantive occupational care is intended to improve talent retention and increase the attractiveness of the profession amid ongoing labor shortages in the transit industry. Local bus operators have expressed support for the initiative and are expected to provide additional subsidies to help maintain the program.
