Sunday, July 15, 2018

#7 Transportation


Bike rides through a beautiful city. Taipei Dec. 2017
First experience as a scooter gang. Kenting August 2013.
In Taichung city, much like any city that hosts millions of people, you can easily flag down a taxi to get you anywhere you need to go. Starting the meter at $3USD (this hasn't changed in five years by more than half a dollar), a longer journey of 7km / 25 min will run you about $10-12 USD. Most people seem to have scooters, or take the city buses which also include the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line, now known as the blue line and runs as bus #300. 
The BRT coming into Taichung train station. The now Blue Line has it's own lane which runs from Taichung Main Station out to Providence University 17.1K (10.6M)
With an 'Easy' card riding the BRT or a bus is free for the first 12* kilometers! 
The new train station built behind the old one. 
Taichung, now the second largest city in Taiwan as of July 2017, will also soon have an MRT (subway metro) consisting of one line. 
An intersections before Taichung Main Station. You can see the train line and the soon to be MRT line above it. 
We also have UBikes in the city. Once your easy card is registered you can also ride and use these bikes for free up to a certain amount of time. I see these in use quiet a lot, and I have enjoyed getting them with friends in these years. ^^ 

Scooters

Scooters are one of the highlights to living in Taiwan for nearly every foreigner I've met. Hop on, hop off, take it up the mountains, ride it across the city, weave in between traffic, get lost, find someplace new, or enjoy the open air of a coastal town or an impromtu ride through the city as a passenger is always a good choice too! But BE CAREFUL! Plenty of people, including myself have been in scooter accidents. (Plenty have not at well.) So take your time, (but don't hesitate), know your surroundings, be alert, and never forget your helmet! 
*Another tip, don't get off on the left side of a scooter to avoid giving yourself a 'Taiwan tattoo.'
My mentee giving me my first scooter ride, end of June 2013.
Most of the time used scooters can be bought for around 300-500USD. Regular maintenance is needed of course, but scooter shops are always within walking distance in the city and the costs are always incredibly low compared to home countries. "Labor costs" don't really seem to be a thing here as far as I've experienced. 
Taiwan does drive on the same side of the road as in the United States. However, when driving  in the city, do not make a right on red. To turn left you must do what we call "boxing." (See above image). Cars have a left turning lane, but for scooters, you must cross the intersections and wait in a 'box' for the next green light, then proceed forward.  
Very common for families, friends, boyfriends and girlfriends to be seen scooting around the city. It's also common to see babies, multiple children, and even dogs on for a scooter ride. I once saw five grown boys on one scooter! 
Not sure if this is a good idea. ^^

Buses

Taking a bus costs nickels and dimes for those with the time.  Photo cred: Jessie Y

In my first couple of years, taking the bus to nearby cities for day trips seemed to go hand in hand with a good weekend. Ranging from $2-12USD you can get anywhere up and down the west coast of Taiwan and into the mountains by bus. 
 

The cost is inexpensive, however, travelling by bus does take a larger chuck of your time than using the HSR or paying for your own taxi. But, unless the distance is quite far, the extra time isn't so bad.

In the city, I had never used the local buses much (always my scooter) until my accident this past March, which led to a broken arm. Since then I have taken local buses to school daily, as well as many other places. If you have the patience and you've planned the time, the buses are CLEAN, convenient, FREE, and much safer. 
Field Trips on the School Bus!
Buses in front of Kaohsiung's Zuoying (HSR) Station.
To get any further south than Kaohsiung, one must bus.

Taichung Traffic in Harmony

TRA 

Also true for the TRA, Taiwan Railways Administration, costs dollars to travel the circumfreance of Taiwan.  Train lines do not cross through the mighty mountains of isla formosa. 

High Speed Rail

In the most recent years, opting for the HSR (high speed rail) for weekend travels is usually the go-to. 
Taiwan's bullet train is world class traveling for around $15-$30 USD. Having used Japan's JR bullet train in Feb. 2016, it is easy to see where Taiwan had based their own system from. However, the price for a trip across Japan is quadruple what is paid for on a trip across Taiwan. The Taiwan HSR has just 12 stations running along Taiwan's west coast from Taipei in the North to Kaohsiung in the South.  

Electric Scooters

G O G O R O S 
Founded in 2011;  "GOGORO is a Taiwan- based venture-backed company that develops and sells electric scooters and battery swapping infrastructure." Taiwan's innovative character is, again, spectacular and makes me proud to call this island my home. Companies are often thinking to the future, and how to do better. I've seen a good amount of GOGOROS taking to the roads. I was so excited when I saw a battery charging station recently, and knew more were to come! 
 Here's an article about Taiwan's plan to set up 3,310 stations by 2022!
Electric scooter on Green Island. CNY 2014. 

Garabage and Recycling Trucks

Taiwan's garbage trucks take to the streets playing Beethoven's Fur Elise. 
Photo cred: Chris W.
The less seen, but just as important, compost trucks!
Almost unbelieveable to me, Taiwan once was nicknamed 'Garbage Island.' No longer true, Taiwan now has one of the most efficient recycling systems in place. Wo Ai Ni, Taiwan! 

E-Gate, B****es

Once a legal 'alien' resident, you can get registered with E-Gate at the airport.
From there on, while traveling in and out of the country, your ID card is scanned, your photo is taken, and BAM! You're through. Truly one of the greatest feelings while traveling has been walking right past hundreds of people waiting in line and walking right through those clear glass doors.
(Not to mention how insanely nice everyone is at the airports.)
The affordably accessible, pricise, and sanitary public transportation of Taiwan is top notch. Not to mention the joys of riding a scooter, and the excitement of future electric scooters (and cars) taking over Taiwan. 

While I didn't mention much on cars, there are plenty of them. I am always surprised with the amount of high-quality, name-brand cars I see in the city, (considering the roads are always conjested) even seeing a Tesla on the road. Having said that, all of the people and required transportation to get us from point A to B to C, does cause for an awful amount of air pollution. This (is usually why we're wearing masks) is the number one thing I won't miss about Taiwan. 

Thanks for reading! - K 


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