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For our first excursion in Taiwan, we took Taipei’s Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) to the Discovery Center of Taipei. Before coming to Taiwan, I had extensive experience with the metro system in Washington, D.C., as well as some recent experience with various European metro systems (in France, Belgium, and Spain). Although the metro systems all functioned similarly, I noticed a few differences in Taiwan’s metro in particular that stood out.

One immediate difference that struck me was how clean Taipei’s metro stations and trains are. In both the U.S. and Europe, many of the metro systems do not look as well maintained as Taipei’s metro. The difference may be partly due to the fact that the rules forbidding food and drink on the metro are more strictly enforced in Taiwan than they are in the U.S. and Europe.

Another difference that stood out to me was how orderly Taipei’s metro system is.  On the train platforms, boarding passengers queue in clearly delineated sections to ensure that passengers exiting the trains have a clear path and that people don’t jump ahead of those who arrived on the platform first. This system differs greatly from all of the other metro systems I’ve experienced, where people wait in crowds on the platform and push and shove in order to board the trains. I found the very orderly system in Taipei more effective than the other systems because it seemed to decrease the stress of boarding and exiting the trains.

A final difference I noticed was that, inside the trains, the passengers strictly respected the rules involving priority seating. In the U.S. and Europe, able-bodied passengers take seats designated as priority seating and often make their own choices regarding whether or not to give up their seats to older passengers or passengers more in need. In Taiwan, the priority seats are always left available and empty for those who need them, even when all the other seats are taken. The fact that passengers more strictly observe priority seating rules in Taiwan again demonstrates the orderly nature of the metro system and may indicate an increased level of respect for the elderly in Taiwanese society.

It is almost time for the New Year’s celebrations in Taipei. I’m excited about going to Taipei 101 to see the fireworks and to explore more of the culture and the food here in Taiwan.