Under the leadership of Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen, Taichung’s commitment to a safe and convenient walking environment has earned global recognition. A study featured in Nature Cities and reported by The Economist ranks Taichung among the world’s top 50 most walkable cities out of over 10,000 with populations exceeding 500,000. Taichung also ranks fourth in Asia, surpassing Tokyo and solidifying its global reputation as a pedestrian-friendly city. According to the Construction Bureau, Taichung’s sidewalks achieved an 83% walkability rating, a new high, highlighting the effectiveness of the city’s ongoing efforts to improve the walking environment.

According to the Construction Bureau Director Chen Da-Tian, Taichung’s long-term commitment to pedestrian-friendly policies has earned global recognition, with the city ranking fourth in Asia among tens of thousands worldwide. He highlighted that surpassing Tokyo as an internationally recognized city in walkability is a remarkable achievement for Taichung and a shared source of pride for its residents. Chen stressed that Tokyo has long been seen as a benchmark for pedestrian-friendly cities, making Taichung’s higher ranking a testament to the city government’s ongoing efforts. He also acknowledged the cooperation and support of Taichung’s residents in making this success possible.

Director Chen added that since taking office, Mayor Lu has been dedicated to improving Taichung’s pedestrian environment. Her initiatives go beyond the city center, focusing on better walkways near schools and optimizing pedestrian routes around key transportation hubs to enhance safety and comfort. Chen emphasized that the city government will continue investing resources to enhance sidewalk quality through accessible infrastructure, making Taichung a truly livable and pedestrian-friendly city.

According to the Construction Bureau, the study evaluated global walkability through big data analysis, taking road planning, pedestrian safety, infrastructure accessibility and other factors into consideration. The ranking identified the world’s top 50 most walkable cities, with Taichung securing 49th place alongside other Asian cities such as Kyoto (28th), Taipei (35th), Kathmandu (45th), and Tokyo (50th). This recognition underscores Taichung’s achievements in pedestrian infrastructure and its international reputation as a walkable city.

The Construction Bureau elaborated that moving forward, the city government will continue to deepen its people-centered transportation policies by promoting pedestrian signals, improving intersection safety, and expanding accessible walking areas to ensure a safer and more convenient environment for all residents. The city government remains committed to the spirit of sustainable development as it works to enhance walking spaces, positioning Taichung to not only represent Taiwan but also rise to the level of global cities as a world-class pedestrian-friendly city.