Taichung City was recently ranked among the top 50 most walkable cities. Its performance has also drawn attention from Australia, which claimed the top two spots among the Asia-Pacific cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2024. Professor Rhys Williams, Head of the Schools of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Technology Sydney, made a special visit to Taiwan on the 25th to attend the 2025 Taichung City Road and Pedestrian Environment Policy Development Forum. During the forum, he shared Australia’s experiences in promoting pedestrian-friendly environments. After visiting the Central Park, the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center, and the Green Museumbrary, Professor Williams praised Taichung for its thoughtful and meticulous efforts in urban architectural design, aesthetic landscaping, and pedestrian space planning. He commended Taichung’s favorable conditions, describing it as a “world-class city.”

According to Director Chen Ta-tien of the Construction Bureau of the Taichung City Government, the second edition of the 2025 Taichung City Road and Pedestrian Environment Policy Development Forum invited four experts from industry, government, and academia—both domestic and international—to engage in discussions on forward-looking concepts related to pedestrian-oriented environments. The forum featured sessions on topics such as “Road and Pedestrian Environment Policy Development” and “Traffic Safety Design and Material Technology.” The most anticipated speaker was Professor Rhys Williams from the University of Technology Sydney, who delivered a keynote on “Evolving Urban Landscapes: Case Studies of Pedestrian Spaces in the Asia-Pacific Region.” He shared Australia's experience in promoting walkable environments and shaping urban image, fostering meaningful exchanges with attendees.

Professor Rhys Williams’ research spans the Nordic region, Japan, and Australia, with a focus on the practice of landscape architecture, the construction and application of knowledge, and the visual representation of both online and physical spaces. During his visit to Taiwan, he rented a YouBike and rode to Taichung’s “green lung”—Central Park—personally experiencing the city’s pedestrian and cycling environment. He also visited internationally renowned landmarks such as the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center and the Green Museumbrary. Professor Williams expressed high praise for Taichung’s integration of aesthetics and functionality in urban architecture, as well as its people-oriented approach to creating pedestrian-friendly spaces. He remarked that walking through the city with a gentle breeze brought a tangible sense of the close connection between road infrastructure and landscape design in Taichung. During the forum, he actively exchanged ideas with fellow experts and local residents, sharing Australia’s experience in promoting walkable urban environments.

Director Chen further noted that last year’s forum received widespread acclaim, prompting its return this year with participation of domestic and international experts from industry, government, and academia. This year’s forum delves into key topics including “Road and Sidewalk Policy,” “People- Oriented Transportation Planning and Design,” “Traffic Safety Technologies,” “Cost-Effectiveness of Preventive Maintenance,” and “Urban Image and Pedestrian-Oriented Streets in Australia.” A highlight of the event is the keynote address by Professor Rhys Williams, who shared international insights through his presentation, “Evolving Urban Landscapes: Case Studies of Pedestrian Spaces in the Asia-Pacific Region.” The forum aims to inspire diverse perspectives and advance Taichung’s development as a world-class, people-oriented city.

According to the Construction Bureau, this year marked the inaugural launch of the 2025 Taichung Student Design Competition for People-Oriented Environments, which received enthusiastic responses from 13 universities across Taiwan, with a total of 120 submissions. The competition showcased students’ creativity and their engagement in relevant topics. The first prize was awarded to the project “School Route Plus,” centered on the concept of providing children with a safe route to school, which was highly praised by the judging panel. The winning entries were exhibited at the forum, where an award ceremony was also held, receiving an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.

The forum also recognized outstanding maintenance units for their exemplary performance in the 2024 Road Maintenance Evaluation. Director Chen expressed his gratitude to the dedicated teams across various city government agencies for their steadfast commitment to enhancing road maintenance quality and advancing the development of people-oriented environments. He emphasized that it is through the collective efforts of all involved that Taichung continues to make significant strides toward creating a people-oriented and transit-friendly urban road environment.

According to the Construction Bureau, the city government has been actively promoting a people-oriented environment with pedestrian friendliness at its core. To date, a total of 166 kilometers of sidewalks and 33 kilometers of school walkways have been newly constructed or improved, benefiting 129 schools. In the past year alone, the city optimized 603 intersections, improved 63 high-risk junctions, and installed 240 additional traffic signs and road markings. Through measures such as expanding waiting areas, installing pedestrian refuge islands, setting back crosswalks, and adding corner railings, overall traffic safety has increased by 83%—a record high. These efforts reflect Mayor Lu’s vision of “A Prosperous Taichung, Safe for Pedestrians,” allowing citizens to walk with peace of mind and establishing Taichung as an international city.