A shuttle bus drives on the Third Ring Road to help singles in the capital find their ideal partners. Wang Jing / China Daily

After almost a month on the road, a love bus aims to bring the capital's lovelorn close together is laboring to get out the first gear.

Zhang Peng, the man in charge, said since they launched the activity on July 26, more than 100 people have booked tickets online. But only one-third of them have actually showed up.

"We have merely an average of five people every day on the bus. I think the lack of popularity is due to the fact that the idea is so new that people still have doubts and dare not try it," Zhang said.

"But the situation may change as time goes by for we are gaining attention from media and some companies."

The journey, named "Love on the Third Ring Road", starts from the No 944 bus stop near Gongzhufen in Xicheng district at 5 pm between Monday and Friday and travels the Third Ring Road clockwise before terminating at the same stop. The whole journey takes about three hours.