TAIPEI BUS LANE DEVELOPMENT

Public transit has long been recognized by the city government to be an important transportation solution to Taipei. Bus was the predominant public mode in the city but as in many other cities, with the construction of new roadways and increases in private vehicle ownership, bus ridership began to decline year after year. Planning of the bus lane system in Taipei City began in the early 1990's, when the Institute of Transportation (IOT) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications conducted a planning study on the Taipei Priority Bus Grid Network. The system as well as its planning and design concepts evolved over the years in stages. Many people were sceptical towards the introduction of bus lanes in the densely developed city. The fear of causing more severe congestion is the primary concern. The primary objective of this paper is to share experience gained and issues faced during the development of Taipei's bus lane system. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E206247.