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Maokong cable cars to start July 4: Hau

After a 12-week test run and two inspections by transportation experts, Taipei's Maokong cable car system in Muzha (木柵) will begin operation on July 4, the Taipei City Government announced yesterday.

The starting date was pushed back from this month because of mounting concerns about the system's safety and noise pollution.

Taking his second inspection tour of the cable car system, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday endorsed the system's safety, while inviting the public to take advantage of the cable car to visit various teahouses in Maokong (貓空) and enjoy the scenery.

"The Maokong cable car system is very safe. Maokong is a famous cultural and tourist attraction, and visitors can take the cable car to drink tea and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere around the mountain area soon," Hau said at the system's Taipei Zoo Station.

4km system

The 4km-long cable car system will run from the Taipei Municipal Zoo to Maokong, with a stop at Chihnan Temple (指南宮).

It will operate from 9am to 10pm Monday to Friday, and from 8:30am to 10pm on weekends and holidays.

Easycards

Passengers can use their MRT EasyCards to pay for the cable car ride. Prices are set at NT$30, NT$40 and NT$50.

Jason Lin (林志盈), general manager of Taipei Smart Card Corp, said the company would also issue "321" ticket packages at a price of NT$180 to be sold at the MRT's Taipei Zoo Station and all the cable car stations.

`321' ticket

The "321" ticket will allow passengers to take three cable car rides, two bus transfers and one visit to the Taipei Zoo, Lin said.

To resolve the noise issue, Luo Shiaw-shyan (羅孝賢), director of the city's transportation department, said that noise isolators had been installed inside the machine rooms and had successfully reduced the noise level from 68 decibels to 64 decibels.

Barking dogs

This should put a stop to complaints that the noise sets dogs in the area barking, he said.

Hau said the city government had already fixed all of the 16 problems listed by transportation experts before they would clear the system for operation, adding that he was confident that the cable cars would pass the experts' final inspection next Thursday.
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