STRONG GROWTH OF PASSENGERS

Ean Sokhim, director of the Phnom Penh City Bus Authority, said the "smart" buses had good-looks and are equipped with advance technology such as GPS (Global Positioning System) and cameras.

"I used to ride the bus to my office, and it is comfortable, equipped with air-cons, clean, and easy to travel," he said. "In the bus, we can talk on telephone, or play Facebook."

Sokhim said since the launch of the new buses, more and more people had switched from using their own vehicles to use the city bus service, and even local and foreign tourists also boarded the buses for city tours.

Previously, there were only between 6,000 and 6,500 passengers per day, but since the operation of the new buses, the number of passengers has remarkably increased to between 16,000 and 17,000 per day. Sokhim said. "This truly reflects strong support and satisfaction from passengers."

The buses start serving passengers every day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bus driver Sean Sithon, 26, said people began to use city bus service because it saved money, reduced traffic jams, and was easy to travel.

"My Line No. 3 attracts a lot of passengers, especially on Saturdays and Sundays," he said, adding that the bus welcomed more than 200 passengers in a single trip, and most of them are students, garment factory workers, and private company employees.

"A passenger pays 1,500 riel (about 0.37 U.S. dollar) for a single trip. However, the bus is free for the elderly, Buddhist monks, disabled persons, students, teachers, and garment factory workers," he said.