TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's capital has secured a prestigious position among global transportation leaders, climbing three spots to fifth place in the latest public transport rankings released by British travel authority Time Out. The mid-March report revealed that an impressive 88% of Taipei residents expressed satisfaction with their city's transportation network, signaling growing international recognition for Taiwan's urban mobility infrastructure. This achievement places Taipei among an elite group of cities renowned for exceptional public transit systems.
The three-position jump from last year's eighth-place ranking reflects Taipei's comprehensive transportation ecosystem. The city offers residents and visitors an integrated network that includes the Taiwan High Speed Rail, operational since 2007, and the meticulously maintained Taipei Metro system, which has earned international praise for its immaculate stations and reliable service. Travelers navigate the city with ease thanks to electronic information displays and bilingual signage throughout the transportation network. Complementing these rail services, Taipei's extensive bus system and the convenient EasyCard payment method for accessing YouBike rentals have further strengthened the city's urban mobility credentials.
Time Out's comprehensive assessment drew from the experiences of more than 18,500 urban dwellers across over 50 countries, offering a global perspective on transportation quality. Hong Kong claimed the coveted top position with a near-perfect 98% satisfaction rate among its residents. Chinese megacities dominated the upper ranks, with Shanghai and Beijing capturing second and third places respectively. Abu Dhabi's transportation system earned fourth place, positioning the United Arab Emirates capital just ahead of Taipei in the global standings.
Following Taipei in the rankings were European transportation hubs London and Vienna, with Seoul securing eighth position. The survey results highlight Asia's dominance in public transportation excellence, with the region claiming more than half of the top 19 positions in the global assessment. Conspicuously absent from the leading ranks were traditional Western urban centers such as New York and Paris, suggesting a shifting global landscape in transportation infrastructure quality and user satisfaction. Taipei's strong showing reinforces East Asia's reputation as home to some of the world's most efficient urban transit systems.