In Taiwan, local governments subsidize bus companies so that passengers can enjoy low fares.
It’s the country’s way to encourage people to use public transport instead of driving their cars to belch more smoke and aggravate rush-hour traffic.
The regular one-segment bus ticket in Taipei only costs the passenger NT$15 (P26 pesos), and passengers using smart cards are entitled to receive a transfer discount for the MRT, other bus lines and bicycle- sharing service within one hour after alighting from the bus.
Many car owners prefer them to skirt traffic, the woe of parking, and obscene gas prices.
On weekends, large dogs are allowed to take the bus with their owners, and there’s no need to use dog-travel crates to take their pets to dog exercise parks around the city.
The Taipei Metro has 131 stations so almost all the happening places are within a walk’s length from MRT stations.
I remember going to the Taipei Zoo with my parents when I was in high school for the first time via the MRT.
There used to be only 39 stations, which weren’t interconnected.
Nowadays, MRT systems have been built in five cities in Taiwan, including Kaohsiung, Taoyuan, New Taipei City and Taichung.
Tourists can take the MRT from the Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei, or to Taoyuan high speed rail station hence it’s very convenient.
Public transport is the easiest way to travel around Taiwan.
I wonder how it will pan out for the jeepney as primary public mode of transport in the Philippines.