TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a bold move to transform central Taiwan's transportation landscape, Changhua County Government officials announced on Wednesday (June 18) that Magistrate Wang Hui-mei (王惠美), the elected head of this predominantly rural county, has led a delegation to Denmark's capital to study Copenhagen's world-renowned sustainable transit networks. The Taiwanese officials conducted an extensive tour of Copenhagen's comprehensive bike-sharing infrastructure and award-winning metro system, with Magistrate Wang explicitly stating her intention to adapt these Danish innovations to enhance environmentally friendly transportation options across Changhua, a county historically dominated by agricultural and industrial activities rather than progressive urban planning.
The Taiwanese county leader has articulated an ambitious vision to transform Changhua into a model of livability comparable to Copenhagen, with particular emphasis on expanding and modernizing the county's limited rail infrastructure as a cornerstone of this development strategy. County officials believe the firsthand observations and technical discussions from this European study tour will significantly inform their approach to implementing more sustainable and efficient transportation networks throughout Changhua's diverse landscape of urban centers and rural communities, positioning the county to join the worldwide movement toward environmentally conscious urban planning that prioritizes quality of life alongside economic development.
According to official figures released by Changhua County authorities, the region's existing public bicycle program already serves nine administrative districts with a network of 127 rental stations and maintains an operational fleet of 2,400 bicycles available for public use. Magistrate Wang highlighted the county's innovative application of advanced data analytics to optimize bicycle distribution and availability, specifically targeting areas where transportation options are limited along routes serviced by the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), the national railway system that connects Changhua's communities to Taiwan's larger transportation network, and addressing mobility challenges between the county's dispersed townships where conventional public transit options remain underdeveloped.
The Taiwanese delegation found particular inspiration in Copenhagen's internationally recognized cycling infrastructure, which has earned the Danish capital its nickname as the "City of Bikes" among urban planners worldwide. The European city features an extensive network exceeding 400 kilometers of dedicated cycling paths and has pioneered an innovative traffic management approach called the "green wave intelligent signaling system." This sophisticated urban technology coordinates traffic signals along major commuter routes to remain green for cyclists maintaining a consistent speed of 20 kilometers per hour (approximately 12.4 miles per hour) during rush hours, significantly improving both transportation efficiency and the overall quality of the cycling experience for Copenhagen residents. ◼
