Online hailing buses operate in the streets of Taizhou. [Photo/tznews.cn]

Taizhou city – located in East China's Jiangsu province – launched its first online bus-hailing service in the Taizhou Medical High-tech Zone on June 28.

Passengers can book rides via their smartphones to enable smart, point-to-point travel through ridesharing.

The service operates on a demand-responsive basis, with no fixed schedules or routes. Passengers can call the bus from any preset station, and the system determines the optimal route based on passenger needs and traffic conditions.

The initial operating area for the service stretches east to Hailing South Road, south to Tianxing Road, west to Xiangtai Road and north to Xianglong Road – covering a 13.4-square-kilometer area that includes schools, industrial parks, commercial zones and residential areas.

In all, there are 125 stops, including 101 regular bus stops and 24 virtual stops.

The buses used are 6-meter-long green and white painted vehicles, each with a capacity of up to 15 passengers. The service operates from 7 am to 6 pm, with a fare of 3 yuan ($0.41).

Passengers can book rides through the Youdian Chuxing (優(yōu)點出行) app or the WeChat mini-program by entering their destination and confirming the trip. Upon booking, passengers wait at their pick-up location and show a verification code to the driver when the bus arrives.

"It's so convenient and I'll definitely choose the online bus-hailing for my commute from now on," said Zhu Huihui, a participant in the trial.

She said the service had significantly reduced her commuting time by eliminating the need for transfers, making her journey more efficient and convenient.