Resolving scooter-parking issues

A new parking-fee system for the Taichung Railway Station area

Words by Paula Lin Translated by Anna Yang
Photos provided by Reflection Photography and
Transportation Bureau of Taichung City Government

Pedestrians around the Taichung Railway Station are often frustrated by motor scooters parked in storefront covered pedestrian arcades or on sidewalks, as scooter owners block walkways for their own convenience without thought of their impact on others. To help resolve such parking-related issues, Taichung City Government Transportation Bureau has decided to implement a special parking-fee system around the station, while at the same time providing free parking 500 meters from the station. The bureau has also worked with the Environmental Protection Bureau and police to crack down on illegally-parked or abandoned scooters. Such measures are expected to not only create a better environment for pedestrians, but also improve traffic flow around the rail station.

Since April 6, 968 main parking spaces for scooters were added within 300 meters of Taichung Railway Station, while parking fees were changed to NT$10 per hour, up to a maximum NT$30 per day. In addition, 374 secondary parking spaces for scooters were added 300 to 500 meters from the station with parking fees of NT$20 per day.

urthermore, free parking is provided 500 meters from the station, including 400 free spaces at Gancheng Bus Station. This means that a total of 1,600 spaces are available for scooter drivers.

In order to stop illegal parking along arcades and sidewalks, police are publicizing a parking ban with posted signs in Central district. Parking regulations prohibit parking on arcades under three meters wide and within 10 meters of intersections. Other regulations require that scooters must be parked perpendicular to the road, or else face fines and towing. The police department is also reminding area residents with scooters that enough space for at least two pedestrians to pass side-by-side needs to be maintained in storefront arcades.

Efficient cooperation between relevant city government bureaus and the police is also seeing the continuous removal of abandoned scooters left in parking spaces.

Transportation Bureau Director Wang Yi-Chuan noted that it was common for student and office commuters to park scooters in front of the railway station for over five hours. To remedy the situation, the government is encouraging owners to instead park their scooters for free and walk 8 minutes to their connections at the rail station, or to save money and get exercise by using public buses and the iBike system to travel to this area. It is expected that the above policy changes will not only improve the parking situation but also improve the overall transportation environment around the Taichung Railway Station.