Public light bus | |||||||||||||
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Chinese | 公共小型巴士 | ||||||||||||
Cantonese Yale | Gūngguhng Síuyìhng Bāsí | ||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Public light bus | ||||||||||||
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Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||
Chinese | 小巴 | ||||||||||||
Cantonese Yale | Síubā | ||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Minibus | ||||||||||||
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The public light bus (PLB) or minibus is a public transport service in Hong Kong. It uses minibuses to provide quicker transport and to serve areas that standard Hong Kong bus lines cannot reach as efficiently. The vehicles are colloquially known by the code-switch Van仔 (Cantonese Yale: Van jái; lit. 'Van child or Van-ette').
Depending on the type of vehicle, minibuses carry a maximum of 16 or 19 seated passengers; no standing passengers are allowed. Minibuses typically offer a faster and more efficient transportation solution due to their small size, limited carrying capacity, frequency and diverse range of routes, although their fares are generally slightly higher than those of standard buses. The popularity of minibus services in Hong Kong can be attributed to Hong Kong's high population density, as well as the ability of the minibuses to navigate narrow and winding roads which standard buses cannot.