This week Taipei hosts the Smart City Summit and Expo which should be a highlight for  policy makers, city planners, and leaders to discuss and drive innovative ways to make Taiwan’s cities more livable for their inhabitants by using the latest technology. However recent actions by the Taiwan government call into question if the country is indeed taking smart steps to secure its bright, technology-enabled future.

Innovative transport solutions are critical to any smart city

That’s why Uber will be sharing at the summit how we work with cities across the world to integrate public transit systems on to our platform, and how we partner with taxis by providing technology that increases vehicle efficiency and potential taxi driver earnings. We’ll also be highlighting innovative new technology and mobility options like electric bikes, scooters, and aerial ridesharing. Sadly, the recent proposal by Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) would regulate against even the most proven of these initiatives – e-hailing – and by doing it would deprive Taiwan’s cities and their inhabitants.

Nearly two years ago we agreed with the MOTC to restart Uber in Taiwan under a new, unique business model partnering with rental car companies. Since then we’ve demonstrated a clear commitment to do the right thing for over 10,000 Uber driver partners, 3 million loyal Uber customers and for Taiwan.

On February 22, the MOTC proposed changes to existing rental car regulations that, if introduced, would have a devastating impact on our partners’ businesses in Taiwan, the livelihoods of 10,000 drivers and their families, and on Uber’s operations. This has sparked an important debate: do we want a society where innovation and new ideas can coexist with traditional industries, or one that shuns innovation and stifles change?

Why are these changes bad for smart cities, and their smart citizens?

  • Minimum one hour rental requirement with restrictions to discounts or promotions as incentives
  • Rental vehicles will be required to ‘return to garage’ between trips, limiting the utilisation of vehicles and earning opportunity of drivers.

These measures, designed to protect Taiwan’s taxi industry, would devastate drivers and rental companies’ livelihoods, stifle innovation and make transport considerably less efficient – this is not smart-city thinking.

These proposed changes are the most commented on topics on the Join Government policy forum and we can understand why. The MOTC is currently halfway through a 60-day consultation period and Uber and other local e-hailing platforms have been excluded from open discussions, despite repeated requests to participate; while taxi operators seem to be driving the discussion, even though the regulatory changes are not directly related to their operations.

Clearly this is not just a taxi industry issue

It’s broader than that. Drivers, rental car companies, e-hail platforms like Uber, and consumers all deserve to be heard because smart cities should serve everyone who calls them home.

Together it is possible to achieve a solution that doesn’t limit innovative transport options for the future. So let’s get smart about the future of our cities, and partner on a path forward that ensures no one loses. #WinTogether