Department of Transportation

The 2013 Taipei International Car-Free Day will be held on September 22nd. With this year’s theme of “I am the spokesperson”, a green transportation spokesperson, Taipei City Government urges its citizen to take action in support of green transportation, because every citizen is the best spokesperson of green transportation. The Department of Transportation notes that, to celebrate this year’s Car-Free Day, the activities will include a 10 km walk for the first time, as well as a creative bike show and a carnival on Renai Road. The walk calls out to citizens to echo the values of International Car-Free Day in the simplest, most environmental friendly and healthy way.

Taipei City’s MRT network continues to expand, and has formed an integral mass transit network along with its city bus services. More and more people walk and use bikes to connect with public transportation. As such, bike riding is increasingly being used by citizens to commute. On the other hand, the city government is also aggressively improving Taipei’s pedestrian environment by widening sidewalks, moving motorcycles out of arcades, flattening sidewalks and arcades, etc., with considerable progress. In addition, given that YouBike has grown in popularity among citizens, together with bike riding facilities and environment being soundly established and improved, a benign environment for green transportation which gradually enhances the practicality of low-carbon traveling has taken shape in Taipei City. On behalf of Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-Bin, Deputy Secretary-general Xue Chun-Ming of Taipei City Government attended the Car-Free Day press conference on the 6th and stated that, according to the data published by the Department of Transportation, the market share of Taipei City’s green transportation has reached 58%, the highest in the nation; more than 3.4 million citizens in Taipei use public transportation every day. Also, the intercity express bus service scope now covers Taipei City, New Taipei City and Keelung City. A total of 108 YouBike stations have been set up throughout the city, with daily uses surpassing the 40,000 mark. However, Taipei City Government does not stop here, it will continue to encourage its citizen to make the most of green transportation; by 2020, the City’s green transportation is anticipated to reach 70%. The distinguished guests attending the press conference included: Wang Shang-Wei, commissioner of the Department of Transportation; Sun Tien-Long, commissioner of the Department of Information and Tourism; Wu Sheng-Chung, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection; Fan Liang-tung, secretary general of Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce; Dai Hong-Sheng, chairman of Taipei Joint Bus Systems Management Committee; as well as bus transportation trade members of the City. At the press conference, Secretary General Fan of the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce explained the actions taken by the industry and commerce sectors in support of Taipei City Government’s promotion of green transportation.

The Department of Transportation expressed that, differing from the activities held in the past years for the Car-Free Day, a range of activities including sport walk, creative bike show parade and street-block carnival has been added for the first time this year. The walk will be held at 7:15 AM on September 22nd, starting from the Civic Plaza and then along the central express lane of Renai Road to Jingfu Gate and return, taking the sidewalk on the north side of Xinyi Road, then Dunhua S. Road and Renai Road, and back to the Civic Plaza. The bike riding activity will start at 7:45 AM from the Citizen’s Square, along the central express lane of Renai Road to the Air Force Headquarters and then return. The street-block carnival will set off at 9:30 AM, for which the express lane of Renai Road from Civic Plaza to Anhe Road section will be closed for the carnival. Elating performances include: marching bands of Taipei First Girls High School and Taipei Jingmei Girls High School, the Brass Quintet of Taipei Symphony Orchestra and street performers to liven up the event. There are also bike riding teaching and bike polo activities. Freshly-made coffee (limited) will also be served. Taipei City Government hereby cordially invites its citizens to come outdoors and take part in this special event.

The sport walk and bike riding activities are open for sign up from 12:00 noon on September 7th; 5000 places are available. Each participant will receive a round-collar souvenir T-shirt and also enter a lucky draw. Due to the activities, traffic control will be conducted on Renai Road, where the central express lane of sections 1 to 4 will be closed from 6:00 to 8:30 AM; and also the central express lane of Section 4 of Renai Road (between Taipei City Hall and Anhe Road), and the slow traffic lane between Guangfu S. Rd. and the south side of Yixian Road will be closed from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. City buses passing through Ranai Road will be detoured accordingly on the day. Please follow the traffic directions provided by the police. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. For more details of the activities as well as traffic control, please visit the official website at http://www.hope.org.tw/20130922.

2013-09-17