Octopus Extends Service to “Rehabus”
Contributing to a fast and convenient journey for the mobility handicapped
Octopus Cards has announced its first extension to the social welfare sector. This month, Octopus has been introduced to “Rehabus” of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (“HKSR”) for its passengers’ convenience.
Rehabus serves to provide barrier-free transport service to the mobility handicapped, facilitating their daily travel to work, school, training center, or go out for shopping, entertainment and medical treatment. The ultimate objective is to encourage them to participate more in social activities and integrate into the society easier.
The vehicles taking the lead to adopt Octopus are 3 Feeder Buses of Rehabus running the circular routes across the Hong Kong South District, Kolwoon City and Shatin. Running like green minibus with fixed routes and schedules, the Feeder Service’s passengers can always get on or off the feeder buses at any points along the designated route.
Along with the Feeder Service, the HKSR plans to roll out the system to other bus services including scheduled routes, dial-a-ride, and pooled dial-a-ride. It will gradually install Octopus readers to its remaining fleet by early 2005. When the Octopus service is full launch in a total of 87 Rehabus, about 500,000 passenger trips per year will be settled by this fast, reliable and hassle-free payment system.
“We are delighted and hounoured to partner with the HKSR to introduce the convenience and simplicity of Octopus to a very meaningful welfare service, to make the life of the mobility handicapped easier. We shall continue to capitalise our experience and expertise in smartcard technology to offer more innovative and diversified applications to the Hong Kong people,” said Ms Cindy Cheng, Sales & Marketing Director of Octopus.







