- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,057
- 18,914
Desperate times, desperate measures.
Officials announced that starting in April, the Gifu Municipal Government will offer free housing to five new fixed-route bus drivers each year to address a severe driver shortage. The initiative, a joint effort between the city and Gifu Bus Co., will see both parties splitting the cost of rent for municipal housing, allowing drivers to live there at no charge. According to city officials, this is the first program in Japan to subsidise bus drivers' rent fully.
Gifu Bus operates 43 routes, primarily within the city, but a declining number of drivers—due to factors such as an ageing workforce and restrictions on working hours—has led to service reductions. In 2019, the company had 490 drivers, but by 2023, that number had dropped to 398, resulting in a roughly 20% decrease in bus services over five years.
Officials announced that starting in April, the Gifu Municipal Government will offer free housing to five new fixed-route bus drivers each year to address a severe driver shortage. The initiative, a joint effort between the city and Gifu Bus Co., will see both parties splitting the cost of rent for municipal housing, allowing drivers to live there at no charge. According to city officials, this is the first program in Japan to subsidise bus drivers' rent fully.
Gifu Bus operates 43 routes, primarily within the city, but a declining number of drivers—due to factors such as an ageing workforce and restrictions on working hours—has led to service reductions. In 2019, the company had 490 drivers, but by 2023, that number had dropped to 398, resulting in a roughly 20% decrease in bus services over five years.
Central Japan's Gifu aiming to lure new bus drivers with free municipal housing - The Mainichi
GIFU -- The Gifu Municipal Government will start providing free accommodation to five new drivers of fixed-route buses each year from April in a bid t