Bus services are the most popular type of public transportation in Macao. The Youth Affairs and Education Bureau and the Transport Bureau jointly organise tours during the summer for families to visit one of the city’s bus depots, allowing participants to improve their understanding of Macao’s public bus system.

Each tour starts with a shuttle bus ride that takes participating families – that have signed up in advance – to the bus depot, located in Pac On, in Taipa.

Each tour includes an interactive session where staff from one of the city’s bus operators explain more about public transportation etiquette, and about the everyday work of a bus captain. Children enthusiastically take part in these sessions, as they participate in games and try to win prizes.

Tour participants can also see how coins used to pay for bus fares are processed in the back office of a bus operator.

Children are thrilled to be inside a bus as the vehicle goes through the automatic bus wash machine.

Staff from one of the city’s bus operators brief tour participants on vehicle maintenance and repair work at the depot.

Tour participants pay close attention to how a technician checks and repairs a bus.

A child sits on the bus driver’s seat, getting a glimpse of the road from a driver’s viewpoint.

A bus captain provides instructions as a child learns how to properly use the steering wheel, and pretends to be driving a bus.

The tours aim to raise awareness among local people regarding bus transportation etiquette, in a bid to improve behaviour standards on public buses.