By KHT Staff. Images via 柯志恩 Facebook page.
KAOHSIUNG — KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) on Tuesday proposed a four-point traffic reform plan, pledging to make the city safer for pedestrians, more practical for scooter riders, and easier to use for public transport passengers.
Ko said her plan, called “Better trips, better Kaohsiung,” would focus on people-centered streets, scooter-friendly rules, smart traffic management, and greener transport.
On pedestrian safety, Ko proposed creating “safe school travel zones” within 150 meters of schools, with improved routes for students walking to and from class.
She also said she would work toward 15-minute walking neighborhoods and raise sidewalk coverage on 12-meter-wide roads in urban planning areas from 58% to 65% by 2030.
Ko said the city should also review how traffic fine revenue is used.
For scooter riders, Ko said she would review the city’s mandatory two-stage left-turn rules and reduce the number of intersections where scooter riders are required to make hook turns to less than 5% of intersections citywide.
She said waiting boxes would remain where needed, while the city would also review lane-divider designs and improve scooter parking. Her proposal includes easing restrictions on heavy motorcycle parking and improving roadside scooter parking layouts.
Ko’s smart traffic proposals include wider use of AI-based traffic management, better signal coordination, and upgrades to road signs.
On green transport, Ko proposed improving bus stop environments, restoring the first 30 minutes of YouBike use for free, and expanding the city’s YouBike network to 1,800 stations by 2030.
Ko signed a traffic reform pledge promoted by the Next Generation Human-Centered Transport Association.
Several traffic and civic advocates attended the event, including association vice chair Chen Siang-ting (陳翔庭), transport commentator “Owl Traffic Book” (Owl貓頭鷹交通書), pedestrian and child rights advocate Wu Ting-chun (吳亭君), Taiwan People’s Party Kaohsiung council candidate Lin Yu-kai (林于凱), KMT councilors Huang Siang-shu (黃香菽) and Lee Ya-ching (李雅靜), and KMT council candidate Tung Yen-chen (童燕珍).
“Owl Traffic Book” said traffic reform should combine engineering, education, and enforcement, while also praising professional staff within the Kaohsiung Transportation Bureau.
Wu said city traffic planning should put children and vulnerable road users first. Lin said high school students should receive driver safety education before graduating at age 18.
