Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲, third right) and New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫, third left)

Taipei, March 12 (CNA) The mayors of Taipei and New Taipei cities on Monday unveiled a monthly pass that will give commuters unlimited use of greater Taipei's public transportation network, including the Mass Rapid Transit system and city buses, as well as free YouBike rides for the first 30 minutes.

The "All Pass Ticket," valued at NT$1,280 (US$43.83), will be launched on April 16.

Speaking during a news conference to announce the ticket, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said that as always, people are encouraged to use public transportation to help combat traffic congestion.

Also at the MRT Da'an Station in Taipei, where the announcement was made, New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) said he hoped the new pass can help boost daily ridership in greater Taipei's public transportation system, while improving air quality.

The average daily ridership on the metro system, which covers both cities, currently stands at around 2 million, with another 2.1 million people take the cities' buses, Chu said.

With this new offering, travelers can make unlimited use of the public transportation systems in the two cities using the monthly pass, according to Chen Hsueh-tai (陳學台), head of Taipei's Department of Transportation.

Prior to the official launch in April, commuters can start to purchase the monthly pass using their existing Easy Card or debit card beginning Tuesday, at any metro station's information booth or value-added machines.

"We hope to make transportation more affordable, and at the same time encourage more people to move away from their scooters and cars as their main form of transportation," Chen said.

(By Liang Pei-chi and Ko Lin)
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