Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and other city officials are to commute on public transportation networks on Friday next week to support World Car Free Day, the Taipei Department of Transportation said on Thursday.
Parents and elementary-school students are invited to join Chiang on his way to work, department official Huang Huang-chia (黃皇嘉) told a news conference.
The mayor is to upload photographs from the morning on the department’s Web site, Huang added.
Photo: CNA
Riding the MRT or taking a bus, as well as riding a YouBike or walking is encouraged, he said.
World Car Free Day, first held in the 1970s, is marked globally on Sept. 22, encouraging people to travel using transportation other than private motor vehicles.
Taipei Department of Education Chief Secretary Liao Wen-ching (廖文靜) said that the city encourages students — especially those in grades four to six — to walk to school, following a one-month trial run at four local elementary schools in the first half of the year.
The trial reduced carbon emissions by an estimated 773kg, Liao said, adding that about 60,000 elementary-school students are expected to follow in the footsteps of those in the trial.
Meanwhile, a free coffee giveaway event is planned for four Fridays from next week to Oct. 11, Huang said.
People with a reusable cup can get a free coffee if they ride a bike to one of eight spots, he said.
The free coffees are to be available in Xinyi District at: Xinyi Plaza (信義廣場) and Zhongxin Plaza (忠信廣場); in Neihu District (內湖) at Dagangqian Park (大港墘公園) and Zhouzi Park No. 2 (洲子二號公園); in Nangang District (南港) at World Trade Center Park (世貿公園); in Beitou District (北投) at MRT Guandu Station’s Exit 1; and in Zhongshan District (中山) at MRT Songjiang Nanjing Station’s Exit 7 and at MRT Zhongshan Elementary School Station’s Exit 2.
The giveaways start at 7:30am on each Friday and would continue until the coffee has run out, Huang said.
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