Mopeds are viscous two-wheelers that have become
heart and soul of daily life in Taiwan. Not so much in Taipei as underground system has provided a cheaper and faster means of travel within city. All other cities though rely heavily on moped, scooter or motorbike (call them what you may) as means to keep city alive and functioning! When I first arrived in Kaohsiung, Taiwan many years ago, (joining a ship in Kaohsiung) I was amazed and dumbfounded as I stood at traffic lights in what had been an attempt of mine to get to other side. I reached crossing and looked around, looked at a wasp’s nest of little two wheelers on road and going in every direction possible! How on earth was I supposed to get across road, how was anybody ever supposed to cross a road in Kaohsiung?
Mopeds everywhere, hundreds of them, millions of them, going every which way but loose. At no time in fifteen minutes that I stood there with my mouth open did crossing become even remotely clear of buzzing creatures. At no time did I feel safe or secure in prospects of crossing that road. The motorbikes were just everywhere like locusts in a field. Other pedestrians I eventually noticed where crossing this melee, before they stepped off pavement though they did look at me with my mouth open, in wonder!
Nowadays, I don’t think twice about crossing road. The ‘swarm of bees’ no longer frightens or shocks me and I understand system completely. This is how you cross road: Wait until road parallel to you is flowing (green light ahead) and then just step off into road, close your eyes and walk quickly across. Close your eyes? Yes, this is only way to do it; otherwise you may panic, turn around and be mowed down by a moped or sliced up by a Vesper. Somehow controllers of these two-wheeled monstrosities have excellent knowledge and foresight as to where a pedestrian will be twenty or so seconds ahead of where they are now. Confused?
Try it this way! If we know time at which a pedestrian starts to walk across road and we know speed at which they are walking then it will be easy to work out time at which said pedestrian will reach other side.
Moped drivers have a six sense for this. They do not need help using this mathematical formula: as it is in-built into their brains when they purchase their first bike. They will see you crossing road and will automatically work out where you will be when they cross your path. In this way they work out instantly where you will be when they reach crossing so that they will pass easily in front or behind you. You as pedestrian must walk at same rate otherwise you will confuse driver and he may get it all wrong.
Ach, I am getting tied up in knots. Listen, when crossing road in Taiwan, wait for green light and then just walk smartly and quickly across he road with your eyes shut. Just do it!
Mopeds provide means to a way of life for about 90% of people living in Taiwan. The ten percent that does not use a moped are people like me – too afraid to do it. And rest are rich enough to have a car or too young to drive (younger than 12yrs old it seems). Mopeds are means through which gas bottles are delivered to your house, chickens are delivered to slaughterhouse, and mail is brought to your doorstep and through which Policeman patrol streets. Mopeds are used to go to work, visit friends and to do shopping. Mopeds are used to snatch handbags from pedestrians and used to make getaway after bank robbery. Mopeds are used to collect children from school or to go on a family outing and they are used to collect garbage and recycling material for scavenger. Mopeds pull stalls of all shapes and sizes and mopeds pull trailers bowed under with wood or bags of cement. Mopeds are used for everything that can possibly be dreamt up.
My favorite picture regarding uses of Scooter is rubbish collection lady. She has moped completely covered in plastic bottles of all shapes and sizes. Anywhere that a bottle can be tied or a plastic bag can be hung then there was one. The moped itself could not be seen, so complete was job that she had done. Another is Live Chicken delivery boy who is seen every morning on his way to market. His moped has six large size crates stacked up on rear, filled to choking with live chickens. At front are another three or so crates – these filled with eggs. Being so top heavy I often wander how he never has an accident: what if there is a gust of wind one fine day, my what a mess that would be. I am also surprised that chickens where not dead before they arrived at market!
Yes, motorbikes are used for everything and in most cities push all other means of transport into background. Bus systems are more or less useless for average person! Considering a moped journey of twenty minutes, it could take two buses or more to cover same trail and take well over an hour. Buses are unreliable and far and few between, they do not go where you want them to go and they are typically old and falling apart. Taxis are okay and plenty of them but are generally too expensive for everyday use. Bicycles are too dangerous and cars are only for rich.
Yes, Mopeds are business and until more Transport Systems are built or better bus routes and frequency are provided they will continue to be vein and connection system for majority of population.
A typical off shelf Scooter costs upwards of 30,000NT dollars. That is about 600 UK Pounds or 900 US Dollars. So large is market, thus so cheap can they cost to buy. A teenager’s first priority is moped. As soon as they are sixteen a moped comes into every conversation until mother, tiring of having hers used all time, persuades father to buy one. Teenagers go to school on them and in this way they have become a status symbol. Adverts on television use sexy woman to push forwards usefulness and need to have a moped. Adverts use fashion and self-importance to promote ownership of a moped and so end result is that if you have a moped you are “hip”, and if you don’t have one then you are not worth talking to.
For price they are not expensive to typical household in Taiwan and anyway, cheap second hand mopeds are easily found or ones that have been dumped are often in fully working condition and easily appropriated by wise.
Every single available space outside of houses, buildings, apartments and office blocks are covered in parked mopeds. Car Parks everywhere are stuffed to over flowing with two wheelers, most in use but some having been forgotten about or just left to waste in preference for a newer model. Mopeds are parked everywhere and anywhere that pedestrians ever thought of walking on. Pathways and walkways, pavements and curbs are all festooned with parked two wheelers. Once again pedestrians come second and are forced onto roadside to join mass of moving vehicles and dangers involved thus.
