While I did not grow up in Taipei, Taiwan, I visited the city for extended periods of time during summer breaks to visit extended family. Both my parents are from Taiwan, and so the majority of my family lives across the island. As a civil engineering student interested in transportation from a Connecticut suburb, what I observe about Taipei is its good public transport and mixed land use. This is especially true in the older, denser parts of the city where my grandparents live. During our visits, we mostly get around on public transportation, whether by bus, metro, or intercity rail/high-speed rail when traveling around the island. We would only use personal vehicles when we visit ancestral land in the countryside or travel within other cities on the island. However, like many Asian cities, many people ride small scooters to get around and zip around cars and buses on busy roads. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for bus drivers to see them weaving in and out of cars on the road.
While we frequently use public transport to get to places outside of walking distance to get to department stores or larger shopping areas, there is usually no need to leave the immediate neighborhood. There are supermarkets, traditional markets, restaurants, food stalls, convenience stores, breakfast stands, parks, night markets, and a metro station all within 5-10 minutes of walking distance from my grandparents' home. There is even a night market right outside my grandparents' door. Granted, they live in one of the relatively older parts of the city where land use is very mixed, compared to some of the suburban areas where high rises are dedicated to shopping, housing, offices, etc. While the coverage of the transportation system itself is a positive contributor to its wide use, the overall culture of prioritizing the public’s well-being over the individual also leads to safety and reliability in the transport system.
As a foreigner staying in Taipei, it's easy to navigate the city because many of the signs in the metro stations are also in English, since there are many foreigners in Taipei for business. Foreigners mostly rely on the metro system, so English signage on local bus routes is not as widespread. However, since my grandparents live near a university, there are foreigners who are on exchange and so the area is quite diverse. In this way, both the structural and human aspects of transportation networks prove to be beneficial in helping both locals and foreigners move around. Compared to a Connecticut suburb, it is easy to live without a car in Taipei. While I enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to drive, well-developed public transport systems often are equal or better choices in high-density areas.
All below images are from my last visit in the summer of 2019.
Rainy morning view from my grandparents' front door, before the stores open.
Neighborhood main street
Scooters galore in an old European part of Taipei
Modern contrast of a church building next to a traditional temple
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