The 2014 UCLG ASPAC Congress was held at the Taipei Regent Hotel, and the topic of the third plenary session on 4 September was “The Development Trend of Green Transportation”. In attendance at this plenary session were Manfred Neun, President of the European Cyclists’ Federation; Shih-Choib Fu, Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government; Cheng-Min Feng, professor at the Institute of Traffic and Transportation, National Chiao Tung University; and Shiaw-Shyan Luo, associate professor at the Department of Transportation Management, Tamkang University. The speakers exchanged views on green transport and led a fruitful discussion involving representatives from industry, academia and government.

The plenary session consisted of keynote speeches and a panel discussion during which speakers gave presentations entitled “Sustainable Asset Development by Active Mobility—The Global State of Cycling”, “Keeping Taipei MRT on the Move” and “Towards Greener Transport in Taipei”. We have learned a lot from successful examples of cycling promotion in developed countries, including the building of cycle lanes and integrated transport. Taipei is striving to construct a safer MRT system which integrates people-oriented design and a greener MRT system which uses improved construction quality. By integrating the MRT, low-floor buses, low-pollution buses, public mini buses, taxis, YouBikes and other forms of green transport, we can meet transportation needs and create a seamless transport network. Only through green transport are cities able to develop sustainably.

Green transport accounts for 57.2% of all transport in Taipei—more than any other city in Taiwan. During this plenary session, speakers touched upon various issues, including the creation of a bicycle-friendly and pedestrian-friendly environment, improving the MRT and smart transport system, promoting low-floor buses and establishing a comprehensive bus transport network. Taipei City Government policies are in line with global trends. It is our earnest hope that, through collaboration among industry, academia and government, we can make friendly and green transport accessible to everybody and increase the percentage of green transport to 70% by 2020.