Taiwan’s Motorcycle Waiting Zone: How It Started and Where It’s Headed

If you have ever zipped around Taiwan on a scooter, you have probably noticed those white boxes painted on the ground at intersections, known as “motorcycle waiting zones.” While they might look like just another traffic marking, they are actually a unique solution that Taiwan created to deal with its streets crowded with scooters.

I remember when I first started riding a scooter myself. Seeing all those cars and other scooters speeding past me made me nervous every time I had to turn left. Those waiting zones felt like little islands of safety, a place to catch my breath and get ready to cross the intersection without feeling rushed or scared. They gave me a small comfort in the middle of the chaos, and I know many new riders feel the same way.

Where Did It Come From?

Back in the 1960s to 1980s, Taiwan’s cities were growing quickly and scooters became the main way to get around. But the streets were not really built for all those scooters, and accidents happened a lot when scooters and cars tried to make left turns at the same time.

In 1985, Taipei decided to create special waiting zones at some intersections just for motorcycles. By 1997, the idea was catching on across the island and by 2000 the government fully included it as part of Taiwan’s traffic policy.

(Source: Wiki)

What’s the Point?

The main reasons for these waiting zones are pretty clear:

• Keep things safe: Stop scooters from colliding with cars when turning

• Manage the flow: Taiwan has a lot of scooters, so keeping things orderly is important

• Give scooters a place: When the inside lanes are off limits to scooters, these zones give them a place to wait

How It Works

According to Taiwan's traffic regulations, scooters cannot use the inside lanes and turn with cars, so they must make a "two-stage left turn." This means the rider first goes straight through the intersection and stops in the waiting zone on the other side. When the light turns green again, they complete the left turn.

It takes a bit more time, but it helps scooters avoid crossing paths with cars that are turning at the same time.

The Good, The Bad, and The In-Between

So what is good about these waiting zones?

- Safer: Avoids motorcycles cutting across lanes to turn left, reducing car conflicts.

- Rider-friendly: Easier for beginners and seniors who might feel nervous about turning in traffic

- Keeping traffic organized: Separates motorcycle and car traffic paths, creating more orderly traffic flow.

But there are some downsides too:

- Rush hour jams: During busy times, these waiting zones can fill up and block car lanes

- Pedestrian trouble: Many waiting zones are next to crosswalks, so scooters and pedestrians have to share space

- Awkward setups: Some waiting zones are small and leave scooters in danger of being hit from behind. Many Taiwanese riders jokingly refer to these motorcycle waiting zones as “wait-and-crash zones”.

- Longer trips: At some intersections, doing this two-stage left turn actually takes longer than turning normally

- Fairness debates: Some scooter riders feel it is unfair that they have to take extra steps while cars just turn as they want

You might wonder how Taiwan's system compares to other countries where scooters are just as common, such as China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Despite the huge number of scooters in these countries, there is no clear two-stage left turn rule like Taiwan's. Riders usually just turn directly with cars, and some intersections have special signals to help manage traffic flow. So Taiwan's waiting zone system is quite unique. It's one of the few places that has made this idea a standard part of urban traffic management.

(Source: Wiki)

The Latest Updates: More Flexibility Ahead

Recently, some cities in Taiwan like Changhua and Tainan have started to relax these rules at certain intersections. Now, scooter riders can decide for themselves whether to make a two-stage turn or just turn left like a car. This shows that traffic rules are slowly becoming more flexible and better suited to the actual traffic patterns in different areas.

Wrapping Up

Over the years, Taiwan’s motorcycle waiting zones have become a symbol of safety and order. They have kept many riders safe, but they have also sparked debates and new ideas. As Taiwan continues adjusting and fine-tuning its traffic rules, maybe one day those white boxes will disappear and fade into memory like the smell of gasoline and the roar of engines that once filled every corner of these busy streets.