By KHT Staff. AI-regenerated image.
KAOHSIUNG — A cardiologist’s fatal scooter crash has prompted calls for better lighting and safer roads in Nong 21 (農21), a largely undeveloped area beside the Love River and neighboring the busy Nong 16 district.
What do Kaohsiung’s “Nong” names mean?
Nong (農) means agriculture. Names such as Nong 16 and Nong 21 originated as numbered agricultural areas in the city’s urban plans. They are planning labels, not administrative districts, and some remain familiar long after redevelopment.
| Area | Location |
|---|---|
| Nong 16 (農16) | The developed neighborhood around Aozihdi Forest Park, between Mingcheng, Dashun, Jhonghua and Boai roads. |
| Nong 21 (農21) | Immediately south of Nong 16, between Dashun Road and the Love River, west of Boai Road. |
| Nong 20 (農20) | Part of the former agricultural and industrial planning area around today’s E Sky Land and Longde New Road. |
| Nong 26 (農26) | Agricultural land within Sanmin District’s Wanzihnei planning area, where redevelopment has been discussed. |
The names reflect planning history, rather than necessarily describing present-day land use. Nong 16, for example, was rezoned for housing, commerce and public facilities and is now filled with pricey apartment buildings, but its old designation stuck.
City Councilor Chang Po-yang (張博洋) said road improvements should proceed before redevelopment, including checks of lighting, visibility and measures to slow traffic, according to an Oct. 24 China Times report.
Chu Chih-sheng (朱志生), a cardiologist at Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, crashed on the evening of Oct. 15 while traveling through Lane 433, Boai 1st Road (博愛一路433巷). He was reportedly returning to the hospital to treat a patient.
Reports have linked the crash to a stray cat suddenly entering his path. However, the city government said the precise circumstances remained subject to police investigation. It has not established that inadequate lighting caused the crash.
The approximately 17.28-hectare Nong 21 area lies north of the Love River’s middle reaches in Gushan District (鼓山區), next to Nong 16. Much of the land remains agricultural, with scattered older homes and narrow roads.
Longzih Borough chief Su Yen-chieh (蘇彥傑) said much of the farmland was no longer cultivated, and residents wanted redevelopment to improve neighborhood services and connections. He said about 60 percent of landowners supported the proposed development.
Chang urged the city to accelerate its planning review and coordinate development with nearby light rail services. He also called for immediate attention to existing roads, rather than waiting for land-use changes.
The city government said the proposed zone-expropriation development had been submitted to the Ministry of the Interior for review. It would continue collecting local views and adjusting the plans.
Officials said road-safety measures, including possible lighting improvements, would be considered based on police findings and recommendations.
