Toko Bus, a company based in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, has introduced a service that allows the reservation of large buses by individuals and small groups to use freely. For example, the buses, which have been left idle amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, can be used as study areas, temporary offices for telecommuting, or even for taking a nap. The company, put in a difficult position due to the travel restrictions in order to prevent infection, wants to prevent the avoidance of buses, which are being shunned out of fear that they might be crowded.
Specializing in the operation of chartered buses for purposes such as sightseeing, Toko Bus has a fleet of 14 buses of various sizes. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, advance reservations were canceled one after another and the number of new reservations decreased, leaving the company-owned buses to continue to wait in the parking lot.
At this time, the company came across a number of people saying things such as, "I can't work in peace with the noise from children's TV and games," "It's difficult to work remotely from home with small children," and "I want a new place for my children to play."
With this in mind, the company thought, "It's a waste to have the buses doing nothing. Although it won't be profitable, we hope to create an opportunity for many people to learn about buses and our company. And so, the project "It's bus time! -- free to use buses" was created allowing the buses to be used free of charge after taking measures to sanitize, disinfect, and ventilate each one.
The buses are available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for about two hours, by either individuals or small groups, with no reservation required. However, for karaoke and DVD viewing, reservations must be made by 5:00 p.m. the previous day and must end by 9:00 p.m. that day.
An employee of an insurance agency in Takamatsu Friday put the service to use. While he works from home half of the week, when his children were forced to stay home due to their elementary school's closure, he felt that it was inconvenient for him to work at home. "Here, I can handle important business meetings via video conference and because it's a pleasant environment with good ventilation, I can concentrate on my work," he said, looking satisfied.
The managing director of Toko Bus said, "In addition to telecommuting, you can enjoy your own "bus time" by reading, enjoying karaoke, and so on. You can also spend some relaxing time on your bus in a quiet parking lot overlooking the Seto Inland Sea," he said.
The service is scheduled to run through June 30, closed on Sundays. While it is free, donations are encouraged, and all the money raised will be given to medical professionals working to treat and prevent infections of the novel coronavirus.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
