A friend sent me a video he saw of it on Instagram. Looks absolutely atrocious.
They are the same folks that put a two stage turn box on a sidewalk in Taichung.
I would just like to be able to make a normal left turn. Would make navigation significantly easier not having to worry about a two-stage turn sign suddenly coming up.
Also getting rid of the motorcycle ban on traffic lanes would be great. As is on many roads the only “legal” way for your typical motorcycle to overtake is from the right via the slow lane…rather than the empty inner lane.
Also not having to go all these super complicated and dangerous small side roads because the MOTC is scared shitless of a scooter driving onto the expressway/highway. Having to go around in a huge circle and spend 5-10 times longer rather than just driving straight for a minute is maddening.
Even for heavy motorcycles, which already passed the 3rd reading to legalize freeway access over a decade ago but the govt. refuse to allow them on still, can’t even access the prov. hwy. to go through the Baguashan tunnel on expressway 76 because the govt. is scared of motorcycles accidentally turning onto national highway number 3.
A big problem area is 王田 in Taichung going to Changhua or going to Dadu district. If I remember correctly there was a period of a couple months where scooters racked up almost 40 accidents.
Maybe the best way to say it is Taiwan does vehicle class separation. So in the case of the typical white plate motorcycle/scooter that most people have those often ended up getting lumped in with bicycles and other “slow” vehicles.
This is despite the fact that typically most city roads are only going to have a max speed limit of 50 which most people can easily reach on their motorcycle/scooter.
White plates are typically (in my experience) allowed to run on most traffic lanes on prov. highways (not counting expressways) with maybe the inner lane banning motorcycles and having two-stage turns. So that means you are allowed to go 60-70 no problem but then some section when going through the city you are forced off the main inner section of road to the outer section and are forced to ride a slow 40 and then later merge back into the traffic that has a faster speed limit which is dangerous.
Actually some civic group had recently met with the MOTC to discuss the banning of motorcycles from inner lanes and MANDATORY two-stage turns. Local govt. representatives seem to be somewhat supportive of getting rid of these measures as road planning becomes more complicated with banning motorcycles from lanes and two-stage turns and having to come up with some solutions for motorcycles to go around or what have you. MOTC didn’t say much other than they would discuss it.
Fortunately Changhua has pretty much, for the most part, gotten rid of two-stage turns except for the bigger intersections and bans on inner lanes for motorcycles and Tainan somewhat as well.
Funnily enough at quite a few intersections I can make a direct left turn across multiple lanes just fine, but it’s “dangerous” for me to make a direct left turn at a larger intersection that has a PROTECTED turn phase at most intersections.
Then there’s also other stuff like the new South Link road made to make things safer for travelers, but not allowing white plate motorcycles because it’s dangerous, except for after a typhoon blocks the road then it’s okay for a short time. Sure wish I could’ve done that when I passed through last time when it was raining and I had to go through the old road.
With the new Suhua road/tunnel they are finally trialing access for white plates…at one tunnel but given a slower speed limit than car traffic.