What Is the New 'S-Shaped Wavy Line' Appearing on Roads? Traffic Authority Reveals True Purpose — Violators Face Immediate NT$1,200 Fine

To improve road traffic order, various cities have recently experimented with different types of road markings. Among them, a distinctive design in Kaohsiung’s bus stops has sparked public curiosity.

Recently, a netizen in Kaohsiung noticed that instead of the usual white rectangular boxes, a bright yellow S-shaped wavy line had been painted in certain bus stop zones along Wufu Road. This prompted questions about the function of this unusual marking.

In fact, this marking is not newly introduced. It is a special bus stop marking first piloted by Kaohsiung’s Traffic Bureau back in 2015. Its main purpose is to make bus bays more recognizable, thereby reducing illegal encroachment by other vehicles.

A user posted on Threads, saying they discovered an unusual marking at a bus stop on Wufu Road: besides the white letters spelling 'Bus Stop,' a yellow S-shaped wavy line was drawn between the characters. The poster jokingly asked, 'Is the bus supposed to zigzag into the station?' The post went viral, sparking discussions such as 'I used to draw these in elementary school,' 'Is this an AI thing? So strange,' and 'First time seeing this — is this a new road marking method?'

Actually, Kaohsiung’s yellow wavy-line bus bays were an innovative design inspired by overseas road layouts. Former Traffic Bureau Director Chen Jin-pu explained that combining the yellow wavy lines with the words 'Bus Stop' enhances overall visibility, helping drivers better recognize bus stopping areas and avoid parking illegally, thus ensuring the safety of buses pulling in and passengers boarding or alighting.

Previously, most bus bays used simple white rectangular markings. However, these were easily confused with regular roadside parking spaces, leading some drivers to mistakenly park there. Additionally, on one-way streets or narrow roads, the traditional rectangular lines could make the visual space feel even more cramped. In busy commercial districts or markets, complex environments further reduced the effectiveness of such markings.

Therefore, Kaohsiung adopted the more distinctive wavy pattern to make bus-only stopping areas more prominent.

Although this special marking has been tested for years, it has not been fully rolled out across the city. Yellow wavy-line bus bays can still be seen on sections of Wufu Road, Siwei Road, and Sanduo Road. However, the Traffic Bureau notes that painting these lines is more complicated than standard rectangular ones, making large-scale implementation difficult. As roads undergo resurfacing and re-striping, some previously wavy-marked bus bays are gradually reverting to traditional rectangular forms.

According to the Road Traffic Management Penalty Act, parking or temporary stopping is prohibited within 10 meters before and after a bus stop (halt). Motorcycles violating this rule face fines from NT$900 to NT$1,200, while cars are fined NT$1,200.