Taipei: A "Civilized" City

Four summers ago, Mike and I were on a high speed train traveling from Shanghai to Beijing when we met a burly gentleman from Alabama who promptly struck up a conversation with us despite our best efforts to avoid his notice. He was in his mid 60's, retired, and apparently lonely for English-speaking company. So we chatted with him for quite some time about his life experiences and general philosophies, which he readily dispensed for our benefit. In his job as an international businessman, he had traveled all over Southeast Asia and had thereby developed various opinions about that part of the world. To be honest, we didn't take seriously most of he said. 

However, after all these years, one of his maxims has recently resurfaced and proven itself true. Somewhere in the course of lauding the-merits-of-Taiwan-as-he-saw-them, he asserted in his deep southern drawl, “Taiwan is civilized.” (Afterwards, we laughed briefly about his seemingly bigoted perspective, and repeated the phrase in mockery of his accent. Then we pretty much forgot about it.)  

The word “civilized” certainly didn’t enter our consciousness when we decided on Taipei for the summer; yet, as we have navigated the city these past four days, we’ve witnessed example after example of just how civilized this place really is. In stark contrast to cities in mainland China-- where diaper-less babies defecate on sidewalks and desperately poor hawkers exploit foreign visitors, where there is no such thing as a “line” and ducks are raised on sidewalks-- everything in Taipei is clean, orderly, and commonsensical. 

Me and some ducklings on a sidewalk in Nanjing, China - 2008

There are just so many systems that work here. Our trip has been ultra-smooth so far, and I really think it's because we are in such an ultra-smooth, civilized city. And it makes me wonder, why can't we adopt more of these systems in more U.S. cities? 

So here it is:

Ten Systems That Work in Taipei (so why not St. Louis?)

#1. Public bike rentals

These rental stations are ubiquitous around the city center. All you have to do is put money in the meter and take the bike away. You can return it to any of the many stations when you’re done.

#2. Free wifi

Minutes after our arrival in country, Mike received a text message prompting him to activate his cellular-based wifi account. Basically, anyone with a cell phone here has free access to the internet. 

#3 Pedestrian tunnels

Crossing a busy street clogged with cars and scooters can be difficult and time consuming. Rather than waiting for the light to change, you can hop under ground and walk safely to the other side in no time. 

#4 Criss-cross-walks

Tunnels aren't everywhere, so you do sometimes have to get to the other side the above-ground-way. But why make two crosses when you could get it done in one? The criss-cross-walk makes so much sense! 

#5 Timed traffic lights

Every traffic light is timed so you know exactly how many seconds are left before they change. This is helpful for drivers and pedestrians. 

#5 Reliable taxis; honest and friendly taxi drivers

Getting screwed by a taxi driver was a common threat in the mainland. Not so in Taipei. In fact, when we were lost looking for our apartment, and we hopped in a taxi as a last resort, the driver refused to charge us because it wasn't that far and he had trouble finding it, too. 

#6 Excellent public transportation

Okay, so living in St. Louis where the public transportation is under-used and under-supported makes me really appreciate a good system. The metro here is super easy to navigate, as long as you can read English or Chinese. Busses are also everywhere and the stops are clearly labeled. 

#7 Queues, queues, queues

Wherever large numbers of people are waiting for something, queues are quickly formed. There are even lined rows leading up to where the metro doors will open, so those waiting can position themselves exactly where they need to be. This is sooo unlike the mainland where we were often nearly trampled as hordes of commuters rushed for a spot onboard. 

#8 Free, easy public recycling 

St. Louis city only recently started providing free public recycling. The town of Osage, Missouri still doesn't and this fact always causes some poor bastard to cart home tons of bottles, boxes, etc. from the  Lake Trip. The powers that be in Osage could learn a thing or two from the Taiwanese. 

Too many old, unwanted receipts? They've got a recycling system for that!

#9 Plastic bag reduction incentives

7-11s are everywhere; there's one on almost every corner. Every time you buy something there and don't use a plastic bag, you get a sticker--which we assume you collect and eventually trade for something you might actually want. 

#10 The washer/dryer in one unit 

Admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about American laundry appliances, but I've never seen a machine in the states that both washes and dries your clothes in one cycle. If an American company makes one, I want to know about it so I can get one when the time comes.