On August 26 (Monday), the APEC International Conference on “Promoting and Addressing Challenges of Cross-sector Resource Integration in Rural Public Transportation,” hosted by the Institute of Transportation, MOTC (henceforth the IOT) and the Central Regional Transportation Development Research Center (henceforth the central regional center and executed by the Feng Chia University), was held at the sixth International Conference Hall of Feng Chia University.
On behalf of Chinese Taipei, the IOT, in collaboration with the 2023 Intermodal and Intelligent Transportation Systems Experts Group (IIEG) policy theme “Improving Accessibility and Inclusivity in the Use of New and Emerging Transport Technologies” as determined in the 52nd APEC Transportation Working Group Meeting (TPTWG52), proposed hosting this international conference at the APEC TPTWG IIEG. APEC economies including Japan, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, the United States, and Chinese Taipei were invited to participate in the physical-online hybrid conference with 13 (including online) foreign and 93 domestic representatives from the industry-government-university-research domain in attendance. They shared their experiences and recommendations for incorporating emerging technologies in rural public transportation, integrating cross-sector resources, and promoting the feasibility and inclusiveness of rural public transportation, all with the goal of improving the quality of rural public transportation services.
The two main focal areas discussed at this international conference were “Cross-Sector Resource Integration in Rural Public Transportation” and “Best Practice Sharing on Inclusive Rural Public Transportation.” During the morning session, experts and scholars from APEC economies shared about policy formulation, resource integration, and cross-sector collaboration-related challenges and experiences of the rural public transportation policies of Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Vietnam. In the afternoon session, case studies shared include Chinese Taipei’s (Taichung Lishan, Hualien, and Taitung areas) promotion of Happiness Buses, as well as Australia and South Korea’s promotion in rural public transport. These sharing allowed participants to understand how Chinese Taipei and other APEC economies use emerging technologies and innovative models to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness in rural transportation.
According to the IOT, the transportation needs of rural residents, particularly economically disadvantaged groups and the elderly with insufficient educational resources and a wider digital divide, are frequently overlooked. This international conference will bring together industry, government, university, and research sectors to share their expertise and experiences in public transportation, allowing for more deeper conversations on how technology can be leveraged to provide more convenient public transportation services in rural towns, thereby closing the urban-rural divide and achieving transportation equality.
On behalf of Chinese Taipei, the IOT, in collaboration with the 2023 Intermodal and Intelligent Transportation Systems Experts Group (IIEG) policy theme “Improving Accessibility and Inclusivity in the Use of New and Emerging Transport Technologies” as determined in the 52nd APEC Transportation Working Group Meeting (TPTWG52), proposed hosting this international conference at the APEC TPTWG IIEG. APEC economies including Japan, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, the United States, and Chinese Taipei were invited to participate in the physical-online hybrid conference with 13 (including online) foreign and 93 domestic representatives from the industry-government-university-research domain in attendance. They shared their experiences and recommendations for incorporating emerging technologies in rural public transportation, integrating cross-sector resources, and promoting the feasibility and inclusiveness of rural public transportation, all with the goal of improving the quality of rural public transportation services.
The two main focal areas discussed at this international conference were “Cross-Sector Resource Integration in Rural Public Transportation” and “Best Practice Sharing on Inclusive Rural Public Transportation.” During the morning session, experts and scholars from APEC economies shared about policy formulation, resource integration, and cross-sector collaboration-related challenges and experiences of the rural public transportation policies of Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Vietnam. In the afternoon session, case studies shared include Chinese Taipei’s (Taichung Lishan, Hualien, and Taitung areas) promotion of Happiness Buses, as well as Australia and South Korea’s promotion in rural public transport. These sharing allowed participants to understand how Chinese Taipei and other APEC economies use emerging technologies and innovative models to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness in rural transportation.
According to the IOT, the transportation needs of rural residents, particularly economically disadvantaged groups and the elderly with insufficient educational resources and a wider digital divide, are frequently overlooked. This international conference will bring together industry, government, university, and research sectors to share their expertise and experiences in public transportation, allowing for more deeper conversations on how technology can be leveraged to provide more convenient public transportation services in rural towns, thereby closing the urban-rural divide and achieving transportation equality.
Figure 1. A group photo of Director-general Chi-Kuo Lin, Chief Secretary Chi-Hwa Chern (Head of Delegation of Chinese Taipei to the TPTWG), Lead Shepherd of APEC TPTWG Dr. Baesung Kim, and attending guests
Figure 2. A group photo of attendees from the International Conference on “Promoting and Addressing Challenges of Cross-sector Resource Integration in Rural Public Transportation.”
Figure 3. Participation in physical and virtual conference