To enhance hiking safety, the Taichung City Government has pioneered the "Taichung City Mountain Hiking Activity Management Self-Governance Ordinance," which mandates that hikers carry positioning devices and emergency communication equipment. Those entering specially regulated mountain areas must also purchase comprehensive mountain hiking insurance, with penalties set for violations.
Mayor Lin Chia-lung stated that the mountain hiking self-governance ordinance starts in Taichung, and in the future, through the Central Taiwan Governance Platform (comprising Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, and Miaoli), they will invite neighboring counties and cities bordering Taichung’s high mountains to jointly establish similar ordinances. He also called on the central government to take the lead in integration efforts to jointly safeguard the safety of hikers and rescue personnel.
The "Taichung City Mountain Hiking Activity Management Self-Governance Ordinance" was passed yesterday (6th) at the municipal government meeting and will be submitted to the city council for review. It stipulates that Taichung City will be divided into generally regulated and specially regulated mountain areas. When engaging in hiking activities in these areas, the public should carry positioning-capable devices, including satellite positioning instruments or GPS-enabled smartphones, as well as emergency communication tools such as satellite phones, mobile phones, or radios. Violators may be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000.
If the hiking activity involves specially regulated mountain areas (above 2,500 meters in altitude or national parks where entry permits are required), it must be led by a team leader. The team leader or team members should possess basic emergency first aid capabilities, such as holding a Basic Life Support certification or being a certified Emergency Medical Technician. They must also purchase comprehensive mountain hiking insurance, with search and rescue-related expenses covered by the insurance. Violators may be fined between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.
Lin Chia-lung said, “Formulating a mountain hiking self-governance ordinance starts in Taichung!” Taiwanese people love hiking, but they must also value life. Sometimes, a moment of negligence can lead to accidents, even putting rescuers in danger during typhoon evacuations. Therefore, to ensure the safety of hikers while avoiding waste of administrative resources, Taichung has pioneered the Mountain Hiking Activity Management Self-Governance Ordinance. Based on the user-pays principle, it stipulates that rescue costs be borne by the rescued individuals.
To prevent the burden of high rescue costs on the public, the ordinance also requires hikers entering specially regulated mountain areas to purchase comprehensive mountain hiking insurance. Currently, insurers require a group of at least five people to be eligible for coverage. The Taichung City Fire Bureau has actively communicated with the Financial Supervisory Commission to revise this rule, aiming to remove the five-person minimum requirement and increase the amount covered for emergency rescue services.
Lin Chia-lung pointed out that hiking is an intercity activity. In particular, the high mountains under Taichung’s jurisdiction border counties and cities such as Hualien, Yilan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Nantou. Therefore, through the Central Taiwan Regional Joint Governance Platform, they will actively coordinate with neighboring counties and cities to jointly formulate relevant ordinances. Currently, Nantou has expressed its willingness to join.
Lin Chia-lung called on the central government to take the lead in integrating related legal frameworks and coordinating among agencies to establish unified national regulations. This would be more effective in safeguarding the safety of hikers and rescue personnel.
(China Times)