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yanshan · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 4

hey all,

i did a general search for this but couldn't find anything specifically on women's public safety in taipei. my mom (who's from guangzhou but has lived in the US for over 20 years and never lived in taiwan) says that i shouldn't go to taiwan because things there are very "luan." besides that, though, a taiwanese-american friend says that, in taipei, women who work late at the office - like, say, stay until 1am - would generally prefer to spend the night their offices than take a cab home. compared to shanghai, for example, he said that taipei is extremely dangerous. is public safety really such an issue there for women?

thanks!

p. s. i'm probably moving there in july; let's be friends.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

I'm not a woman and I didn't use public transport much, but no, Taipei (and Taiwan in general) is not a dangerous place. Obviously, a lone woman at night should keep her wits about her, as you would in any other country, but you are probably safer than you are in most North American cities.

I don't know Shanghai that well, but I think I would be more worried there.

MomCat · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 297

Hi yanshan,

Generally foreign women do not have a problem with crime in Taiwan.

There have been reports of taxi drivers assaulting women. I don't know if they're true but it does seem to have created something close to paranoid panic in some of my female Taiwanese friends. Example: A group of us (two men, two women) were standing across the street from the train station and wanted to get a cab. My friend called on her phone for a cab instead of walking over to get one of the many waiting in front of the station. The reason was because there would be a record of the call with the taxi company and therefore would be safer. This is a level of fear and caution I don't subscribe to and frequently take taxis alone, even after dark.

I've found Taiwan to be very safe. I've only been here for eight months but saw more evidence of crime in China than I have here. I once left my backpack on a shuttle bus (here in Taiwan) and it was turned in and returned to me, including the camera that was inside.

What city will you be in?

Cat

yanshan · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 4

yanshan · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 4

lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

Hi!

I moved to Taiwan in November, and I feel way safer here than I did wandering the streets at night at home in the UK. I wander around Taipei on my own at night fairly often, never even felt unsettled.

Of course listen to warnings, but really, i think you're going to be a lot safer here than in the US!

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

yanshan · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 4

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

I could honestly say that from a personal safety point of view you have more chance of getting run over or in a road accident than getting attacked or mugged here.

I heard of one of our teachers working in Changhua (I work at Hess in Taichung) getting followed and grabbed at while she was jogging by some guy in a car, so it does happen, but the cases are so isolated I wouldn't worry too much.

Just keep general wits about you and whenever you can, travel with friends if you are out late at night and if you feel uncomfortable in a cab, you can always read out the guy's licence number which is on the dashboard to ensure the guy knows he is being watched. Mace is also cheap and available here too. Just don't try to spray cockroaches with it like someone I know did. Long story.

psychedelic · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 167 Location: China

"Of course.......................in the US!" Have you even lived in the U.S.? OMG..it's the horrible U.S.A...there's a criminal lurking at every corner!!!! Any female will be attacked at any possible time!!!!!!! Yours are the typical,over-stated,paranoid comments about the U.S.!!!! Sad

The fact is that there are 300 million people in the U.S.,so of course statistically there will be more crime there than a country like Taiwan with 28 million people. It's also a fact that serious crime is waaaaay down overall in the U.S. from what it was. Until I believe last year,serious crime in the U.S.A. declined for nine consecutive years!!!! You didn't know that did you? Rolling Eyes

Well,guess what? Like millions and millions of other Americans...I've NEVER been attacked or assaulted or a victim of a serious crime. A Japanese guy mentioned to me that he felt very safe during his stay in San Francisco. Of course, there is crime in the U.S. A. just like in Paris,Seoul,Johannesburg,etc. But,if one is wise just like being in any other country..one should be okay. Actually,I feel much safer in my country than in South Korea..where I've had some very bad experiences through no fault of my own!!! The same can be said for many other foreigner's in that country..that have had to deal with some *beep*,highly xenophobic,thuggish,anti-foreigner South Koreans!!!

psychedelic · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 167 Location: China

"but you..............North American cities." Have you even lived in North America? Another assinine "OMG THE U.S.A. IS JUST A TOTALLY CRIME-INFESTED COUNTRY..ONE CANNOT WALK ANYWHERE!!!!!!!!!" group of words!!!!!! Rolling Eyes

"Obviously,..............country,". Exactly!! Serious crime has gone way down in the U.S.A.,but you didn't know that did you? Confused

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I have had more problems in China than in Taiwan.

In fact, I have no memory of any bad experiences in Taiwan at all except for once at a bar.