Taichung City will officially launch its paperless smart parking policy on September 8, beginning with six designated road sections surrounding the National Taichung Theater in Xitun District. Covered areas include 296 parking spaces along Shizheng North 7th Road, Shizheng North 2nd Road, Henan Road, Huimin Road, Huilai Road, and Fengda Road. These spaces are marked with a green “P” logo in white lettering and are equipped with low-position image recognition devices that automatically record parking time and calculate fees, eliminating the need for paper payment slips. According to the Transportation Bureau, this initiative is expected to reduce nearly 25,000 parking slips per month, equivalent to saving over 4,000 sheets of A4 paper. The policy not only helps citizens save money but also contributes to environmental protection.
Transportation Bureau Director Yeh Chao-fu noted that Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has been fully committed to advancing the city’s smart transformation, with the introduction of paperless roadside parking fees marking an important step toward smart transportation. Building upon the city’s earlier deployment of geomagnetic sensors to provide real-time parking information and navigation services, Taichung is now, starting in September, taking a further step by introducing image recognition technology. This system is the first of its kind in Taiwan to integrate both “pedestrian-friendly” and “urban aesthetics,” blending seamlessly into the streetscape without hindering pedestrian passage, thereby shaping Taichung into a livable smart city. The Parking Management Office of Taichung City added that all of the newly designated paperless parking spaces will utilize image recognition to automatically complete time recording, fee calculation, and payment deduction, eliminating the need for physical parking slips. It is estimated that this initiative will save 24,813 sheets of paper each month, advancing the city’s goals of smart transportation, low-carbon development, and green sustainability.
Taichung’s smart parking achievements have also received international recognition. The Transportation Bureau shared that the city was invited for presentation regarding geomagnetic technology at the 14th Asia Pacific Transport Development Conference and the 35th ICTPA Annual Conference in 2023, earning high praise. Director Yeh also showcased Taichung’s smart transportation experience on the global stage through a keynote speech at the 31st ITS World Congress, held from August 24 to 28 in Atlanta, USA, fostering international exchange.
The Transportation Bureau reminds the public that by linking their vehicle license plate to a mobile payment app—such as iPASS MONEY, JKOPAY, CarMochi, Pi app, Parking Lot app, All Pay, pxpay plus, EasyWallet, icash Pay, or Game Pay—fees for paperless parking spaces will be automatically deducted, allowing users to enjoy a discount of up to 40% (valid for six months from the launch date). Those who link payments through banks, telecommunications providers, or the Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection system can receive a 20% discount. Parking information and details on available discounts can also be accessed through the “Taichung Traffic Network” app.
In preparation for the policy launch on September 8, the Transportation Bureau has initiated public awareness campaigns in multiple ways since mid and late August. Measures include installing roadside signage, placing informational flyers on vehicles, dispatching personnel to provide on-site explanations, and sharing updates through the “Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) Paperless Smart Parking” section on the Parking Management Office of Taichung City website as well as the Transportation Bureau’s official social media pages. These efforts aim to help citizens familiarize themselves with the new payment methods in advance.