October 25, 2025 | Taipei, Taiwan
A recent incident involving a Route 208 bus in Taipei City has sparked public discussion about bus driver behavior and passenger safety. The event occurred around 12:00 p.m. today when an elderly passenger’s hand was caught in the door as the driver closed it. A mother pushing a stroller was also reportedly nearly injured in a similar situation earlier on the same route.
According to an initial account posted by a Threads user, the elderly passenger was boarding a Route 208 bus bound for Dazhi when the driver abruptly closed the door, trapping his hand. His spouse, who was still outside, was only able to board after the man shouted to the driver. The same post claimed that earlier in the trip, a mother with a stroller had also shouted at the driver after a near-miss while boarding at the National Taiwan University Hospital stop.
The post quickly drew reactions online, with several netizens criticizing the driver’s behavior. Comments included, “The 208 bus driver is really bad and often brakes suddenly,” while others noted that “the driver shortage has become severe — we need drivers with better training and temperament.”
In response, Zhinan Bus Company released a video reconstruction of the incident to clarify the situation. According to their statement, the driver operated normally and followed standard procedures when stopping the bus. The review showed that the elderly male passenger stood at the door without boarding, as he was waiting for another person who had not yet reached the stop. Believing the passenger did not intend to board, the driver began to close the door, but the man reached out to block it, triggering the door’s anti-pinch system, which automatically reopened.
The driver explained that after reopening the door, the man boarded and began shouting. Shortly afterward, the woman he was waiting for arrived, and the driver opened the door again to let her board. Zhinan Bus emphasized that no stroller was trapped, and all passengers boarded safely.
The company concluded that the incident was primarily caused by the passenger’s action of blocking the door, not driver negligence. However, they noted that the situation would be used as a training case study to remind drivers to maintain awareness and ensure clear communication with passengers.
Meanwhile, the Taipei City Public Transportation Department announced that it will instruct all bus operators to enhance driver education and training, emphasizing the importance of monitoring passenger movements before closing doors. Drivers are urged to show extra patience toward elderly passengers and confirm if anyone still intends to board.
Officials also reminded passengers to signal buses early and inform drivers verbally if they need additional time or assistance.