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DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I am still having a hard time figuring out why anyone would actually want to walk to work in TW. A fellow teacher said it best one night as we were walking back from the MRT station: "It takes a lot more mental energy to walk in this city."

Going to work probably means you have your mind on the coming work day and coming home afterwards is a good time for reflection and calming down. I, personally, do not have the multi-tasking ability to think about anything else other than navigating TP's sidewalks. Plus the wonderful weather guarantees you will be a sticky mess by the time you arrive at school.

There are many places to walk in TP and TW as a whole. The trails along the river are great and there are lots of places to hike in the nearby mountains. Tip to Zaneth: My experience in TW was any distance more than a mile from the trailhead and you will pretty much be completely alone.

But hey, Zaneth, if you can navigate a typical sidewalk in TW and sitll find enjoyment, then more power to you.

DirtGuy

Northwood · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 66

As mentioned by other people, there are numerous obstacles to overcome while �walking� in Taipei. Over a typical 10 minute walk, you should put yourself up for an award if you manage to avoid disappearing into a deep hole, tripping on an uneven curb, getting electrocuted by hanging wires, getting run over by a scooter taking a short cut, or get trapped within 1,000 parked bikes. There is however one problem you will never overcome � that of getting stuck behind an old person who manages to amble down the sidewalk at 2mph while managing to block (with effortless skill and precision) any attempt by others get past. Only the most seasoned walker knows how to handle this situation: use your shoulder or take a taxi to the other side of the road and resume your journey on the other side.

jonks · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 1240

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Northwood,

How dare you tease us with that bit about your gf running over your foot and then not telling us the whole story. I absolutely insist you not leave us hanging and tell us the rest of the tale.

Who knows? You might just motivate everyone to walk more.

DirtGuy

Northwood · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 66

SanChong · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 335

Ha, great story!

On another note, I've also noticed that a lot of posts have been deleted lately. I may have started the trend by reporting a few of Aristotle and Miyazaki's posts, which I viewed as being beyond the pale of acceptability. They deleted a bunch of those posts.
Since that point, I've noticed a lnumber of posts, in general, being deleted. Almost all of them have been frustrated, critical posts of Aristotle.
I've read a few of Nortwoods posts (which have been SCATHING in the direction of Aristotole, and deservedly so), only to notice their deletion later on.

The whole problem would be solved with Aristotle's permanent removal from the forum. Full decorum would return!

Anway, perhaps no one will even have the chace to read this post Smile

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Thanks Northwood for a good laugh to start the day.

I had thought about buying some sandals and now I know to buy ones with at least a little something over the toes.

DirtGuy

zaneth · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject:

Well, just to clarify, I'm not dead set on walking in Taiwan. I'm rather fond of walking and am CONSIDERING coming to Taiwan.

Good news that one can be alone on mountain trails if one so desires.
I've missed the mountains and the sea (living in swampy European Russia). Would be fun to have both.

I've found that people often congregate and there's almost always a little corner away from it all.

In the states one of my favorites was the greenery and trees in the middle of freeway interchange ramps. You could camp in those places with the assurance that noone had set foot there since the place was built.

And the Yosemite "parking lot" was a lot emptier if you actually left the parking lot.

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

It is much easier to walk in Taipei when you carry a large umbrella. It acts as a stick but is more socially acceptable. Carry it at an angle so that it forces cars and scooters to actually go around you as opposed to trying to go through you. My umbrella sometimes will be hit but never me when I do this. It is also much better on the piece of mind when you are forced to walk on the road with a lot of scooters determined to go 30+ km/h. If they honk just hold it further out.

But my question is...... Why do Taiwanese put pointy metal spikes on the front corners of their cars? It's for the pedestrians to make sure they get out of the way, isn't it?

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Zen-Poet · Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 16

Xenophobe · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 163

Taiwan, where people walk in the streets and drive on the sidewalks, where you should look both ways before crossing them. Once upon a time I used to push over scooter drivers who ran into me on sidewalks, but things have gotten better, now I only push over scooters that park in front of my garage.

Northwood · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 66

Aristotle wrote:

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I've often wondered why more pedestrians do not get killed in TW. You would think given what passes for driving that fatalities would be off the charts. You certainly do see lots of accidents yet people walk (limp, are carried in an ambulance) from them. People are better drivers in the States and cars tend to stay on the roadway yet people certainly do die in droves here.

What a paradox: In TW, pedestrians are forced to walk in the streets, scooters use sidewalks as another lane, drivers are nuts, and the cops do nothing. Yet pedestrians seem to take it in stride (no pun intended) and the statistics above suggest pedestrian fatalities are not terribly high. Now look at the States and you have sidewalks the people use and not cars/scooters, pedestrians have the right-of-way at all times, pretty good drivers, enforced traffic laws, and tons of pedestrian/bicyclist deaths.

The only thing I can think of is that the vehicle speeds in the US are much higher than what I see in TW. Even the major highways are much slower than the States. Having been brushed by cars on the street 3 times, I can guess that I would have survived actually being hit by any of them. Hurt but alive. Not so in the US. Given the speeds of the vehicles everywhere, most encounters would be fatal.

Ahh, another thought: Cars in the States are generally much bigger than in TW. Physics was never my thing but I wonder if the force (inertia?) of a larger car is greater than that of a smaller one even if they are moving at the same speed? Maybe someone else out there knows more about this stuff than I?????

DirtGuy

zaneth · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: pointy metal spikes?!

Pointy metal spikes? I do hope you are talking about curb feelers, though from the sounds of it, such niceties are moot there.

Yes, larger cars (and older ones that are made from cast iron instead of plastic) do have more inertial mass than small, modern, composite and plastic models. Though I don't think the difference would matter much for pedestrians. Seems to me that a Geo could quite effectively flatten me.

I've heard Taiwan described as a combination of the worst of Asia and the worst of America. But I don't know, I'm starting to be intrigued.

Used to ride my bike in dense traffic. Was kind of fun. Rented a bike once and rode around Manhattan for a day at breakneck speeds. Taiwan worse?

By the way, how's the swimming......?