上班族必備軟實力

*Richard is a born commuter. Born in the USA, and commuting in Taipei since the 20th century.

The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system makes Taipei accessible to almost everyone. You can zoom around town and not have to worry about traffic and parking. It is also easy for visitors to use, because most signs have English translations.

With all of its convenience and thoughtfulness, it has taken some time to get used to. I have had to forget some old habits. For example: in the MRT, you don’t need to raise your hand to flag down the train. They don’t like it if you wave your arms at every inbound train. Also, if you are a little late and the train starts to leave, you cannot run alongside it, knocking on the door, yelling, “Stop!” That just makes them angry. Also, you must not try to hold the doors open like in an elevator.

Mass transportation in Taipei has been getting better every year, because the government continues to add lines and stations.

Once you get used to the rules, it is a pleasant way to commute. Even standing up is not too difficult like it is on a bus. Newspapers can be hard to read if it is crowded. I sometimes fold it so that I can do the crossword puzzle. Reading a novel or browsing on your Smartphone is not a problem, if done quietly. Riding the bus is noisy and bumpy.

It is also interesting to watch the changes that occur when a new MRT line is introduced into an area. What may have been a quiet street can quickly become a bustling hub of activity. More stores will move in to take advantage of the increased traffic, construction increases, and property values go up. Chances are, there is a McDonald’s somewhere near.

Thank you for reading and for using public transportation.

【作者介紹】

 Richard 是一位台灣女婿，在台灣生活15年，喜愛台灣文化，以風趣幽默的文筆，細膩獨特的觀點，介紹在台灣生活的趣事，一起跟著Richard探訪外國人的台灣世界吧！