buses instead of cars (but bikes before both)

TT: Taichung offers free buses

Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) said yesterday that the city would launch a free public bus program from May 18 as part of efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions. During a six-month period that will run through Nov. 17, those carrying “Taiwan Easy Go” cards will be able to ride public buses in downtown Taichung free of charge from 7am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday. The city government hopes the initiative will encourage more people to take the bus, Hu said, adding that his goal was to see an increase in passenger volume to at least 3 million per month within the next three years. In early 2002, passenger volume was 300,000 per month, he said. The number has increased to 2.1 million thanks to the incentive programs introduced by the city government, he said. Some NT$250 million (US$7.58 million) has been allocated for the new program, he said.

Sounds good.
Brits will remember when Thatcher stopped London subsidising buses so that she could denationalise and give her bus-owning friends a chance to make money from the most profitable routes.