TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Northern Taiwan will conduct its annual Urban Resilience Exercises on Thursday (July 17), a large-scale emergency preparedness initiative designed to strengthen civilian disaster response capabilities and public safety awareness. The Transportation Department of New Taipei City (新北市交通局), Taiwan's most populous municipality surrounding the capital, has issued notifications that a comprehensive "stop vehicles, evacuate people" simulation will be implemented from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. across three major districts: Tucheng (土城區), Sanxia (三峽區), and Ruifang (瑞芳區).
During the 30-minute exercise period, all bus services throughout the affected areas will suspend departures, while vehicles already in transit must pull to the roadside and cease movement. Transportation officials have instructed all drivers and passengers to comply with evacuation directives issued by police officers and civil defense volunteers stationed throughout the drill zones. Maritime transportation will also participate, with passengers and staff at docking facilities required to follow evacuation protocols established by emergency authorities. The city's popular YouBike public bicycle sharing system will temporarily halt new rentals during the exercise window from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., though users will still be permitted to return bicycles to docking stations.
Major transportation infrastructure including Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR, 高鐵), Taiwan Railway Administration services (台鐵), the metropolitan rapid transit system (捷運), and national highways will maintain regular operations throughout the exercise. However, travelers exiting these transportation hubs and motorists departing highway interchanges must adhere to designated air raid shelter protocols in the exercise zones. New Taipei Metro Corporation (新北捷運公司), the municipal transit authority, has confirmed that all metro lines and stations will continue normal service schedules. Passengers will be required to follow emergency shelter instructions provided by station personnel upon arrival.
Emergency response procedures will vary by transit facility type, with passengers at elevated stations on the Circular Line and light rail system permitted to shelter in their current locations during the exercise. In contrast, travelers at ground-level stations will be directed by police personnel to predetermined safety zones established specifically for the drill. The city's intermodal transfer parking facilities will implement modified operations during the 30-minute simulation, allowing vehicles to enter but temporarily restricting departures until the exercise concludes. Transportation officials emphasized that these comprehensive measures have been carefully designed to strengthen community resilience and enhance public preparedness for potential urban emergencies. ◼
