Taiwan Family Trip post #3

Transportation options: Taiwan Island

Bus

Bus is the cheapest, but usually slower than train or city metro. The UBUS 統聯客運 and KuoKuang Motor company 國光客運股份有限公司 are two biggest bus companies on the island. There is couple of other companies, but these two have the coverage all over the island.
You can purchase ticket for almost any bus in any long distance destination also in 7-11 for small sub-charge. 

Train
There are 3 types of trains operated on the island:
區間車 [Qūjiān chē] Local, slow train; seat reservation not required
莒光 [Jǔ guāng] Faster, possible seat reservation.
自強 [Zìqiáng] Express, stop on main (or appointed) stations, seat reservation must.

Train ticket is usually double price of bus ticket. I personally prefer trains. Trains in Taiwan are comfortable, clean and affordable.
 
High Speed Railway
One way to get fast from the South point to the one on the North of Taiwan (or to any place in between) is this 300km/h fast-moving super train. You can check out stations here: http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/. For ticket purchases, that is possible at High Speed Rail stations in 7-11s. You can even get discount when purchasing well in advance (the earliest 28days before the traveling day), but you must be fast, as the discounts are limited and also would depends on the time of your traveling. You can usually get only 5-15% discount on weekend tickets.     
 
MRT/Metro
In Taiwan only 2 cities have their metro. Taipei MRT and Kaohsiung MRT. Metro is usually very clean, comfortable, affordable and safe. When comparing to for example Beijing metro, in general Taipei/Kaohsiung metro train is newer. Metro stations are well signed, also in English.
{metros maps} 

Bike rental/Ubike

Near many main tourist spot, in main cities you can always find some bike rental shop around. Taipei has it's own network of public bikes that can be borrowed from stations around Taipei. This service is called Ubike 歡迎光臨微笑單車 
You can even download android app called Ubike for locating all stations on the map with the sign if that particular station has bike available, station is full or almost full. Service is provided for half hour free of charge after one time card registration at the station terminal. For more than half hour there is small charge about 30NT per hour. The best thing is that you can return your bike an any station that is not fully, anytime you want. This helps the citizens to connect when traveling between different metro lines or metro + bus and make city even more convenient. 

So far there has been Ubike public service provided only in Taipei city. I sincerely wish there would be something similar in Taichung, Tainan or Kaohsiung. City biking would help to decrease the level of pollution.
Watch and learn more about Ubike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfZQ53dR3Vk  

Taxi

There will be special post on traveling by taxi/taking taxi. Follow my blog and read more about tips on traveling around Taiwan.