What surprises foreign riders the most about Taipei MRT?
Taiwan News
Date: 2016-03-28
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
March 28, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of Taipei Metro system, or MRT. Known for
being clean and comfortable, Taipei’s MRT is considered the best way to get around the city, and has impressed many city residents and foreign visitors alike for its convenience and efficiency.
For many foreign visitors, the MRT has impressed them with cleanliness, friendly services and clear guidelines, which make the travel experience so much easier for those who do not speak Chinese.
What particularly surprising about MRT for the foreign visitors to Taipei, in fact, were the carriage seats and the rules against eating and drinking in the stations.
A female Japanese tourist, who came to Taipei for the first time, was surprised when she saw the seats in MRT’s carriage that were made of plastic, as opposed to cushioned ones as they were in Japan’s metro system. The plastic seat was difficult to sit in at the first time, she said, which was hard and slippery. But she became accustomed to it right away.
Another surprising feature of the MRT carriage seats, was the “priority seating.” The darker-colored designated seats meant to be used by passengers with disabilities, elderly and pregnant women, have baffled some foreign riders about whether they are allowed to sit in them. [FULL STORY]