Challenges and accessible features of Taipei for travelers with walking mobility disabilities
I’ve been an above-knee amputee for 30 years. When you have any sort of mobility disability, traveling and walking have challenges anywhere in the world. After spending two months in Taiwan, here are my suggestions and observations about Taipei walking accessibility, from the good and the bad, to the challenges and some helpful tips.
Visiting Taipei with a disability
Taipei itself is an incredible city. During the two months my husband, two kids, and I visited Taiwan, we delighted in the affordable local food, convenient public transportation, and vibrant, walkable neighborhoods. Our sightseeing days took us to local attractions, popular pedestrian areas, cooking classes, and day trips outside the city.
In Taipei, you can find modern infrastructure built with accessibility considerations in mind. You can also find uneven steps, motorbikes parked on the sidewalk, and slopes that can be tiring to walk along. Taipei will have accessibility challenges, but it also has lots of good stuff that makes the city a fun destination for any traveler.
A note about these accessible travel tips and observations
I’m sharing these tips and observations as an above-knee amputee who uses a prosthetic leg and a hiking stick to augment my walking mobility. These accessible travel tips are targeted for travelers who walk but have mobility challenges, such as limb difference, joint issues, pregnancy, and more.
You know your ability level and what works for you in different situations. I hope these 11 tips help you make the right choices for your Taiwan travels, and that you have an amazing time in Taiwan!
1. Sidewalks abound, but they can be tricky
Sidewalks in Taipei are an exercise in inconsistency.
On the one hand, Taipei streets typically have sidewalks. Older areas, such as in nearby Taoyuan, didn’t always have sidewalks though. On the other hand, Taipei’s sidewalks aren’t always easy to use.
Our understanding is that whoever develops a property in Taipei is responsible for the sidewalk, but there’s lots of latitude in construction. Newer construction tends to have more accessible, broader sidewalks. In our experience, there’s a lot of variability in sidewalk levels, curb height, width, and overall ease of moving around.
Honestly, sidewalks here can be a pain for Taiwan walking accessibility. We often encountered areas where surfaces were uneven, or where a sloping design made it challenging for me to walk, as the curb edge and building edge of the sidewalk were at different heights. Sometimes people ride scooters and motorbikes onto the sidewalks, so they can park them.
To Taiwan’s credit, scooters tend to be parked in neater rows on sidewalks, instead of the pell-mell parking in Vietnam that can make a sidewalk completely unusable to pedestrians. Also to Taiwan’s credit? A law passed in 2024 set new sidewalk standards, aimed at improving access and safety and reducing or removing obstructions.
- Sidewalk accessibility and features can vary from block to block
- You might encounter uneven surfaces, missing tiles, elevation changes, 1-4 steps, and other difficulties
- Motorbike parking can create obstructions or narrower lanes of passage
- Take your time, look ahead, and expect some challenging areas on local sidewalks
2. A hiking stick, trekking pole, or other mobility aid can make walking easier
My collapsible hiking stick is my everyday walking essential. Ever since I started using one, I’ve had less overall exertion when walking. I can navigate more areas with ease, and the stick gives me options for how I want to deal with a tricky surface.
- A hiking/walking stick makes it easier to balance when walking on uneven surfaces
- The stick expands my “personal space bubble,” and I’m a little less crowded in busy areas
- A collapsible stick or pole is easier to tuck away in restaurants or on public transportation
3. If your mapping app gives a walking time estimate, double it
Google Maps is our family’s most essential app for getting around. I love that it estimates walking distances. I can plan not only how long we need to walk a distance, but what sort of breaks or downtime I may need later.
However, the walking estimates in mapping apps do not take slower walking into account. My rule of thumb is to double any walking time estimate. That helps me and Anthony set realistic timeframes and expectations when we go somewhere. Or, we can also evaluate if walking is best, or if we are better off using public transportation or e-hailing a rideshare.
- When viewing the route, we can factor in any rest breaks or adjustments to make walking easier
- If I’m tired (such as toward the end of a sightseeing day), we might pad the time estimate more, and/or build in some walking breaks for a rest, snack, and/or beverage
- Build downtime into any walking-heavy itinerary. That way, we already know we’re taking breaks and rests, and we can have a better flow of our day, whether sightseeing or taking care of errands
4. Buses are designed with accessibility in mind
From buses that “kneel” to curb level, to priority seating for people with disabilities, Taipei’s buses are designed with accessibility in mind. It also was common for drivers to check with me on anything I needed, and people offered me a seat when they saw my prosthetic leg.
Bus designs vary. In Taipei itself, we typically encountered buses that didn’t have steps up to the seating area. Outside of Taipei, such as in Taoyuan as well as intercity services, buses typically required stepping up 1-2 steps, but many buses can lower to curb height to make entry more accessible
- Grab bars, handles, and straps are available throughout the bus seating area
- Priority seating is available
- People usually offer a seat, but don’t be afraid to ask (not all mobility disabilities or impairments are visible or obvious, after all)
- Some bus stops have sheltered seating, but smaller stops are open air and don’t have seating
- Signage and displays are in both Chinese and English
5. MRT trains can be easier to navigate with a disability
Taipei’s modern MRT public rail system is clean, safe, comfortable, and designed for ease of access for people with a range of mobility. Stations typically have elevators and escalators, providing alternatives to stairs.
- Stations and trains are well lit, modern, and well maintained system
- Elevators are typically available, but access (such as a longer walk) can vary in older stations
- Platform gaps are typically narrow, uniform, and navigable
- Signage and displays are in both Chinese and English
- Stations and trains can be crowded during busy times
- Priority seating is available and clearly marked in every car
6. Street crossings typically have signals and crossing lanes
Taipei’s traffic typically has decent order, and drivers observe traffic lights and crossing signals (by and large, but of course, keep your usual street diligence). Motorbikes and scooters can be more prone to ignoring a crosswalk.
- Some signals change automatically with the traffic lights, and others may have a call button for the walking signal
- Many crossings have timer displays on the opposite side of the street
- Timer countdowns are not uniform and vary by crossing; some have more time, some have less
- Curb heights can vary, and there’s not always a street ramp (or if there is one, sometimes the angle is quite steep)
- For crossing larger streets, look for underground pedestrian tunnels, and see if there are elevators and/or escalators in addition to stairs)
- Right turns on red are common
7. Taipei walking accessibility at street food night markets
During our visit to Taipei, we feasted on delicious street food at the Shilin Night Market. Night markets can be crowded. Pathways can be narrow too, especially when market stalls line each side of a street.
However, we saw people of various ages and mobilities getting around Shilin Night Market. Pathways typically were flat, paved, and clear, with no obstructions other than fellow market-goers.
Fortunately, it’s also easy to take your time in these environments. Most people are moving more slowly so they can check out different stalls. You can take your time too, and that made my walking mobility at a Taipei night market much easier and less tiring, leaving me more energy to focus on the delicious food!
- Expect crowds and narrow pathways
- Walking surfaces can be uneven, but many markets are on flat, level streets
- You may be on your feet a lot, with limited opportunities to sit
- If you can, visit on a quieter day (such as a weekday or outside of holiday periods)
- Earlier evening times may have fewer people, but not necessarily: Markets can be pretty full and busy throughout their open hours
- Shilin can be easier to get around when you have limited mobility
8. The weather can make it harder to get around Taipei on foot
Our visit to Taipei was during January and February. While cooler, these months also could be pretty rainy. Naturally, wet surfaces can be slippery and of more concern for potential stumbles, slips, and falls.
Taipei can get pretty hot as well. When you have a walking impairment or mobility disability, often you exert yourself more while walking (I certainly do). It’s all the more important to be mindful of feeling tired, thirsty, or hungry (or any combination thereof).
- Build in breaks, and pump those fluids: Rain or shine, getting out of the weather is another benefit of all the bubble tea shops throughout Taipei!
- Rainfall can reduce visibility and make surfaces slippery
- If a typhoon approaches, expect rain, wind, and possibly flooding disruptions to transportation, streets, and sidewalks. Heed all typhoon warnings and instructions, such as to stay inside
- Take frequent shade and hydration breaks during hot weather
- Seek out air conditioned indoor spaces to help you cool down and rest up
- For amputees, heat and humidity can be hard on your residual limb, especially any socket or sleeve that connects your biobody to your prosthetic device
9. Observe cultural considerations and local attitudes toward people with mobility impairments or disabilities
When you have a disability, visiting another country or culture is always going to be a mixed bag.
In Taipei, I typically encountered kindness and consideration. Like I said, when I was on public transportation, people usually offered me a seat when they saw my prosthetic leg. At attractions such as museums, staff might ask if I needed assistance. At the least, they’d point out the locations of the elevators.
Sometimes I would have to make it clear to someone that I was capable of walking or getting around without assistance. That can happen anywhere, and I know it usually comes from a helpful place.
When people offer assistance or come to their own conclusions about my mobility, that’s a personal matter for me, and I try to get across as best I can what works for me in a situation. Naturally, every person with a disability is going to come to their own conclusions about the assistance they need or don’t need in a given circumstance.
Language barriers can make it harder to ask for assistance to understand what someone is trying to communicate; we used Google Translate to help us communicate between Chinese and English.
10. Helpful apps and resources
Here are a few apps and resources we found essential in Taiwan:
- Google Translate (especially the camera translation function)
- Google Maps and MRT app for public transit schedules (download maps for offline use)
- Uber for rideshare e-hailing
- A physical EasyCard for paying for transit (you can also use EasyCards in many shops and restaurants; purchase EasyCard and top it up with cash at convenience stores)
- Taipei’s MRT app for real-time transit information
- Your preferred weather app for checking the forecast (we use Apple’s Weather app)
11. Emergency preparedness and medical support in Taiwan when you have a mobility disability or impairment
I’m going to preface this by saying that, so far, we have never needed any sort of emergency care abroad for me as an amputee or for my prosthetic. In general, though, we try to be prepared for potential emergencies like that.
Here’s what we do and what works for me:
- Carry backup prosthetic supplies and tools (e.g., I pack an extra liner sleeve for my residual limb)
- Travel insurance (while useful for emergency situations, it may not cover prosthetics, and in a major situation, your best solution might be to return to your home country where you have established prosthetics care)
- Pharmacy locations (in the Taipei area, you’re usually never more than a couple of blocks from at least one pharmacy)
- Emergency contact numbers: Police, dial 110; Fire/ambulance, dial 119; this list of emergency numbers is also helpful to keep on hand for hospitals and more
Find travel insurance
You can find Taipei walking accessibility and be prepared for mobility challenges in Taiwan
Taipei has its accessibility challenges, but the city is making improvements. Many areas can make for good walking for visitors who have mobility disabilities or impairments. At the same time, Taipei is an enjoyable city, full of considerate people.
When getting to Taipei, you can build out your day to include walking routes and rest breaks. Most areas of the city make it easy to stop for a bite, a beverage, or both. I find that’s a big help to recharge when I’ve been walking a lot.
My family and I had so much fun during our two months in Taiwan. We want to go back, and when we do, we’ll be all the more prepared to experience Taipei so that I as an amputee can enjoy the city and our next adventures there. And for your own mobility, you can find confidence that you can be ready to face mobility challenges in Taipei, and be open to the wonderful experiences the city has to offer.
