Taichung City has pioneered the introduction of the “Taichung City Mountain Hiking Activity Management Autonomous Ordinance.” Mayor Lin Chia-lung stated today that in the future, through the Central Taiwan (Zhongchangtoumiao) Governance Platform, it will invite neighboring counties and cities bordering Taichung’s high mountains to jointly formulate similar ordinances.
The draft of the “Taichung City Mountain Hiking Activity Management Autonomous Ordinance” was passed at the municipal government meeting yesterday 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 must carry positioning devices such as GPS units or smartphones with location capabilities, as well as emergency communication equipment like satellite phones, mobile phones, or radios. Violators may be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000.
Mayor Lin Chia-lung pointed out that hiking is an activity that spans multiple counties and cities. In particular, the high mountains under Taichung’s jurisdiction border Hualien, Yilan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Nantou, among others. Therefore, it will also actively coordinate with surrounding counties and cities through the Zhongchangtoumiao Regional Joint Governance Platform to jointly develop related ordinances. Currently, Nantou has expressed its willingness to join.
In addition, Mayor Lin Chia-lung also called on the central government to take the lead in integrating relevant legal frameworks and inter-agency coordination, and to establish unified national regulations, which would be more conducive to ensuring the safety of hikers and rescue personnel.
Fire Bureau Director Hsiao Huan-chang noted that within Taichung’s administrative mountainous regions, a total of 160 accident cases occurred over the past five years from 2011 to 2016. These included 19 valley falls, 78 cases of getting lost or going missing, 19 cases of altitude sickness, and 44 cases of illness or injury. Among these, 92 incidents took place within the boundaries of Shei-Pa and Taroko National Parks.
Hsiao Huan-chang stated that among the more challenging rescue operations—those lasting over three days—there were 14 cases in Shei-Pa National Park and 8 in Taroko National Park. As a result, the autonomous ordinance designates mountain areas above 2,500 meters, where rescues are more difficult, as specially regulated zones. Additionally, during typhoons, warning zones will be established, prioritizing urgent areas for inclusion under this regulation, aiming to effectively reduce mountain hiking accidents. 1050607
(Central News Agency)