Keelung City has opened 76 arcades for parking only 1.3 meters away. The Ministry of Communications stated that the principle is a suggestion and provides relevant subsidies for the county and city governments to apply for improvement. It is not a mandatory requirement and respects local governments to adapt to local conditions.

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[Reporter Zheng Weiqi/Taipei Report] In order to allow enough pedestrian space on the road, the Ministry of Communications announced the "Pedestrian Space Improvement Principles" yesterday, providing road authorities with suggestions for improving major and secondary roads and intersections. Leveling and drawing neat lines, leaving 1.5 meters of pedestrian space; however, the Keelung City Government announced yesterday that it would open 76 arcades for motorcycles to park, but only leave 1.3 meters of space for pedestrians to walk, which is inconsistent with the principles of the Ministry of Communications.

In this regard, the Ministry of Communications stated that the principle is a suggestion and provides relevant subsidies for the county and city governments to apply for improvement. It is not a mandatory regulation and respects local governments to adapt to local conditions.

Minister of Transportation Wang Guocai said today that he has instructed the Road Safety Council of the Ministry of Communications to send a letter to the county and city governments on the principles of pedestrian space improvement as soon as possible, calling on the county and city governments to make basic pedestrian safety improvements this year. There are funds available to subsidize.

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Improvement of main and secondary roads. Parking curves are set up when road sections include physical sidewalks. Road sections without pedestrians can reduce the width of lanes to increase pedestrian space. Arcade buildings can be leveled and neatly drawn to leave 1.5 meters of pedestrian space. No parking etc.

The way to improve the intersection is to expand the sidewalk to narrow the intersection, increase the space for pedestrians to stop, reduce the speed of turning vehicles, and retract the crossing line by 3 meters to 5 meters, so as to avoid the A-pillar blocking the view of the vehicle when turning and not seeing pedestrians, long-distance traffic, etc. Shelter islands are added at intersections to provide space for safe parking, and lighting for crossing lines is enhanced.

In terms of roadway improvement, marked-line sidewalks can be adopted. As for parking spaces, they can be set beside the sidewalk or on the other side of the roadway so that the sidewalk is not interrupted to meet both pedestrian and parking needs.

In addition, in areas and intersections with many pedestrians, the crossing time of pedestrians and vehicles can be separated through signal design, and pedestrians can be separated by the phase of pedestrians (only pedestrians are allowed to pass) or the phase of early opening of pedestrians (pedestrians have priority) car.

Regarding the legal parking of 76 arcades opened by the Keelung City Government, the Ministry of Communications stated that the newly built and renovated roads basically leave 1.5 meters of space for sidewalks. In addition to providing pedestrian space, there must also be enough space for wheelchairs and baby carriages Turning space; if there is no sidewalk next to the road and there are only arcades, it is also hoped that a neat line can be drawn, and cars are not allowed within the neat line, leaving 1.5 meters of pedestrian space.

As for the opening of arcade parking in Keelung City, leaving only 1.3 meters of space, the Ministry of Communications stated that this part respects local governments and adapts to local conditions.