Job Discussion Forums

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

Do you drive a car in Taiwan? My wife has been hounding me lately to get a Taiwan automobile license, because my international license expired. I forgot to renew it a couple of years ago when I renewed my class A drivers license. However, I absolutely and categorically refuse to obtain a Taiwan drivers license and I absolutely refuse to �Move Over Rover and Take Over� when she asks me to drive. I feel that people shouldn�t drive a car here unless absolutely necessary. I am amazed that most drivers in Taiwan even have a license to drive. Parking is a hassle. Streets are not big enough for cars. People employ strategies to occupy public parking spaces. People ridiculously drive cars when they don�t need to. Cars just take up space and pollute the environment, and become weapons for certain drivers. People would be better off using a scooter when they need to go to their local 7/11 or to work if it is less than 10 kilometers away. Yet, every young Taiwanese is driven to get their bodies behind the wheel. I hate cars, and they aren�t doing this Island any good.

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

No point in owning a car here. Everything is within distance and the only reason I would need one is if I wanted to get away on the weekends, which I don't anyway so no need. If I did buy one it would be 2nd hand, because someone is bound to hit it, scratch it or damage it in someway.

Benben · Joined: 04 Sep 2010 Posts: 10

I have an old car that stays parked during the week and we take it on the week-end if we want to explore a bit.
I totally agree that using a car in a city is useless and a pain, but a car lets you see so many things you couldn't using public transportation. To say that everything is accessible without a car is simply not true.
It also makes it easier to go camping!

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Public transport? Screw that. You are completely right about how inconvenient it is. I just use me super duper scooter.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

I drive, but I have a kid. There is no way I would put my daughter on a scooter.

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

We use the car for long distance driving like going from Changhua County to Sun Moon Lake or to Shi Tou Forest Resort, but I have driven a scooter to Sun Moon Lake a couple of times recently. What I enjoy about driving a scooter long distance is that I can pull over anywhere and anytime to go wee-wee; something that is a pain in the rear with a car. Not to mention, going off road to do further exploring, and escaping traffic jams.

But I can understand using one if you have a kid(s) on board.

A car also comes in handy during those long rainy periods, and for when you need to do some major shopping.

Nevertheless, for intercity and county area, I prefer driving a scooter.

Public transportation isn't too bad either. If I want to go to Taipei from where I am and avoid the traffic, I take the new high speed rail car.