A photo shared on Reddit is sparking outrage over the state of pedestrian infrastructure in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
The post, shared with the r/f***cars community, shows multiple vehicles, including an expensive white Maserati, parked on a sidewalk, forcing pedestrians into the street.
The original poster titled the image: "Taiwan's 'living hell' traffic is a tourism problem. Pedestrians are then often 'forced' to walk onto car lanes."
In the photo, at least three vehicles can be seen parked within close distance on a narrow sidewalk. The remaining space is extremely narrow, making the path impassable for people on foot.
With the sidewalk obstructed, anyone walking by would have no choice but to dangerously step into the adjacent road's busy traffic lanes. Parking practices like this don't just inconvenience pedestrians — they put lives at risk.
Beyond the immediate safety hazard, this photo represents a larger issue. When we design our cities around cars at the expense of people, we all lose. Pedestrian-hostile streets make communities less livable, less healthy, and less sustainable for all of us.
Commenters chimed in to share similar experiences in cities around the world.
"This kind of thing is commonplace in NYC. I had assumed that it was a local problem, so it's very interesting to see it showing up in other places as well," wrote one user.
Another added: "Taiwan has more car problems than just parking. Its collision rate (per 1000 vehicles) [has] doubled between 2008 and 2020."
The good news is that the solutions to reclaim our sidewalks are within reach.
By prioritizing pedestrian infrastructure, affordable public transit, and people-focused urban planning, we can build a future with more equitable, sustainable transportation for all.
It's time to imagine streets that put people first — and Taoyuan City is the latest reminder of how much work we still have to do to get there.
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