Transportation in Kaohsiung

The number of motorcycle in Kaohsiung City is out numbered the total population. More than 2 million motorcycles are found in the city. The presence of motorcycle is becoming an environmental haphazard and also dampened the efforts of the Government to encourage use of other mode of public transportation such as MRT train. Although the MRT train is networked well, its utilisation is very much well below the target. The company operating the MRT system is losing money. Having said this, the City Government is planning to further reduce the fare to encourage higher usage rather than to increase the fare to cross subsidial the loses. It is simply commendable as investing in public transportation is not as simple as figure shown, but more than a public social and environmental responsibility. It is a right move towards low carbon target.

The plan for cycling is equally impressive. To encourage cycling, the City Government has built well connected, safe and dedicated cycling path for the cyclists. In general, what cyclists are asking for is having a comfortable, safer and connectible route for commuting to work place or shop or study area from their place of living. Kaohsiung City is building a very comprehensive network of cycling path. Apart from that, the renting scheme of bicycle is also of help. Everybody can rent a bicycle at different bicycle station located adjacent to the strategic transportation area and places of interest such as MRT station, parks, schools, bus terminal and others. Anyone can have a free ride for half an hour and would only need to pay if the time excess half an hour. The pay is nominal. The station for returning the bicycle is convenient. The procedure for having the bicycle for temporary use is simple. Even ancilerrary services such as washroom for cyclists to change thier clothes is provided. All these contributed to higher and higher usage of bicycle as another alternative of transportation.

Currently 70% of residents in Kaohsiung is using motorcycle as their main mode of commuting. The City Government is looking at dispersing this percentage to other mode of transportation. These include walking, cycling, MRT and bus. Of course, motorcycle is not to be victimised in which incentive is given for the cyclists to shift their fuel driven motorcycle to the electric motorcycle. Apart from that, buses include the low platform one is plying the city with more route coverage. It is visible and easy to hop on.

On the pipeline also includes the building of LRT system, river transportation and compact city concept to discourage trip generation.

All the above are running now or is going to start. Action is taken. For a good execution, I believe nothing is more than to start it first immediately, and of course integration is important and critical.