Youth Dress Buses in "Spring Festival Couplets" Outfits; Driver: “I’ll Never Feel Inferior Again”

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

A group of young people in New Taipei City launched a “Bus Spring Couplets” campaign. Before the Lunar New Year, they gathered friends to hand-paint couplets and then pasted these fun blessings on buses, filling the streets with festive cheer. The gesture deeply moved the bus drivers, who even joked, “Now when I pass other fancy buses, I won’t feel inferior anymore.”


▲ The couplets campaign decorated three No. 513 buses. Passengers, keep your eyes peeled if you get the chance to ride one. (Photo / Provided by Yi Yun)

With the Lunar New Year approaching, how can we spread blessings beyond setting off firecrackers and going on spring outings? Peggy, a Fu Jen Catholic University graduate in New Taipei City, organized a club called “1la1” and invited friends during the holiday season to join in a chain of participation—each person bringing in another—to jointly decorate the No. 513 buses that frequently transport Fu Jen students to and from classes with spring couplets. The group agreed to first write the couplets using drawings, well-wishes, and humorous phrases, then chose less crowded nighttime hours to begin decorating as they rode the buses from the terminal. The bus drivers, who were initially reluctant about the youth’s activity, couldn’t help but be moved by their joyful expressions while decorating and ended up joining this enthusiastic effort.

 
▲ Choosing a less crowded nighttime period, the group started decorating from the bus terminal. (Photo / Provided by Yi Yun)

 
▲ Boarding the No. 513 bus, you’ll find not only every seat adorned with couplets, but also clever reminders at the stop buttons and boarding areas. (Photo / Provided by Yi Yun)

“Next time you want a free ride, how about helping me decorate the bus?” Aside from being “invited for a free ride” by bus drivers, this New Year’s bus redecoration campaign even sparked a “competition for affection” among drivers. Those whose buses were decorated responded by buying festive materials and tools to add more cheer to their vehicles, while those left out even asked sadly, “Is it because my bus is too old that you didn’t want to put couplets on it?”

“In the past, when I passed other buses all dressed up beautifully, I’d feel so inferior I just wanted to drive away quickly. Now I can finally hold my head high.” Boarding the No. 513 bus, you’ll find not only every seat covered in couplets, but also creative little reminders at the stop buttons and boarding areas, filling the whole bus with a red, celebratory festive vibe. You can now experience this fun setup by simply riding the No. 513 bus, which runs between Taipei Main Station and Fude Road—just hop on for a dose of warmth and enthusiasm this Lunar New Year.


                 ▲ Hey, don’t worry, there’s always a way—smile first, then get some sleep. (Photo / Provided by Yi Yun)