Post by Dan Wentzel on May 29, 2008 13:42:17 GMT -8
Here's a great Wired article on the emerging system in Taipei.
There are metropolises which are building or expanding their systems far quicker than us.
Of course, they probably don't have oceans of NIMBYs to overcome either.
From the article:
Where there is a will, there is a way!
There are metropolises which are building or expanding their systems far quicker than us.
Of course, they probably don't have oceans of NIMBYs to overcome either.
From the article:
Although there are just 69 stations to serve a city of 2.6 million people, the Metro is the fastest, most efficient way to get around. In the 12 years since Taipei Metro has opened, it has cut from three hours to less than one the time it takes to get across town. It carries 1.1 million people a day yet last year it experienced just 36 delays of more than five minutes -- an impressive statistic that makes this subway one of the most reliable in the world.
It's also one of the cleanest. Stations are remarkably tidy, particularly compared to those in America and even Europe. There are trash and recycling bins everywhere, and passengers are not only expected to drop their refuse in the right bin, they do so. Even the most crowded stations tend to have very little rubbish on the floor. Riders give the system a score of 95.5 percent for "overall tidiness."
Knowing when your train arrives is important when using mass transit, and few things are more frustrating than waiting forever on a platform. Most stations in Taipei have television screens that display real-time arrival information. (They also show commercials, but we figure the subway system, which cost $18 billion to build, has some bills to pay.) The screens in transfer stations also tell you when connecting trains arrive so you can pick up the pace if necessary. Riders gave the system a score of 88.7 percent for providing accurate arrival information.
It's also one of the cleanest. Stations are remarkably tidy, particularly compared to those in America and even Europe. There are trash and recycling bins everywhere, and passengers are not only expected to drop their refuse in the right bin, they do so. Even the most crowded stations tend to have very little rubbish on the floor. Riders give the system a score of 95.5 percent for "overall tidiness."
Knowing when your train arrives is important when using mass transit, and few things are more frustrating than waiting forever on a platform. Most stations in Taipei have television screens that display real-time arrival information. (They also show commercials, but we figure the subway system, which cost $18 billion to build, has some bills to pay.) The screens in transfer stations also tell you when connecting trains arrive so you can pick up the pace if necessary. Riders gave the system a score of 88.7 percent for providing accurate arrival information.
Where there is a will, there is a way!