Notes and Comments

Abstract

The motor scooter (encompassing powered twowheelers with cylinder volume up to 125 cc) is not a primary mode of transportation in most countries; however, its distinct characteristics appeal to a significant portion of the driver population in dense cities such as Kaohsiung (Taiwan). Kaohsiung is highly urbanized with mixed-use buildings for housing, retail, commercial/office, and amenities in urban areas thus encouraging local employment and shortening travel distance. Local short trips, such as commuting, shopping, and daily errands like picking up or dropping off children at school, depend heavily on scooters and, to a lesser extent, on cars. According to data from the Transportation Satisfaction Survey (Beacon Marketing Research Company 2008 July), 68.5 percent of respondents commuted on scooters and 16.7 percent drove cars to work every day in 2008, compared with 63.8 percent and 24.2 percent respectively three years ago. And the average scooter commuting distance was 9.6 km for a single trip (Department of Statistics 2008). However, this mode of private transportation has inevitably brought problems when put in