Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday faced criticism after asking companies to help reduce traffic congestion in Neihu Technology Park (內湖科技園區) by adopting floating hours for employees, sources said.
Ko was quoted in an interview as saying that high-tech companies in Neihu should consider adopting floating hours until the city government completes long-term plans to improve rush-hour traffic.
Ko’s comment followed a message by the Taipei City Department of Transportation calling on Neihu commuters to avoid rush-hour traffic, which studies found runs from 8:30am to 9:30am and 6pm to 7pm.
Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association secretary-general Wu Yun-jui (吳雲瑞) expressed reservations about Ko’s proposal, saying that many companies have already adopted such measures.
“This is not a solution to the problem,” Wu said.
The department should consider measures such as removing roadside parking lots and increase the frequency of buses, Wu added.
“The city needs to comprehensively review Neihu’s traffic situation,” Neolec International chairman Kuo Tung-lung (郭東隆) said.
Kuo said that many alleys could be designated one-way streets during rush hour.
Office workers responded negatively to the mayor’s proposal.
“I don’t need him to tell me that,” one said.
“I do not decide when to go to work. My company does,” a Neihu commuter surnamed Chang (張) said.
The municipality has plans to deal with Neihu’s traffic in addition to encouraging floating hours, which Ko said would only be a short-term measure.
Ko said that Neihu’s bus lines were being redesigned and the city is making plans to build more light-rail transport options in the district.
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