Creating a Smoke-Free Environment: Banqiao Railway Station and Xinyue Bridge Surroundings to Become No-Smoking Zones Starting March

▲Xinyue Bridge, one of New Taipei City’s popular leisure and recreational spots, will be smoke-free on the bridge and in its surroundings starting March. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei Water Resources Bureau; Photographer / Hsieh Yu-hsin)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has been expanding outdoor smoke-free areas since April last year, designating all scenic spots and park green spaces across Taiwan as no-smoking zones. Now, the policy will further extend to sidewalks. The New Taipei City Health Bureau announced that starting in March, areas including Banqiao Railway Station, Xinyue Bridge, and surrounding roads will be designated as no-smoking zones to provide pedestrians with a smoke-free environment.

According to a report by the United Daily News, the New Taipei City Health Bureau has been working to provide residents with a healthier, smoke-free environment. Since last year, it first selected the area around Zhonghe Xiushan Elementary School as a public no-smoking space, which proved effective. The bureau stated that starting this year, it will increase the number of public no-smoking areas. From March, this will include the surroundings of Banqiao Railway Station, the Xinyue Bridge surface and adjacent roads, as well as the sidewalks around Guangfu Elementary School. Smoking in these areas in the future may result in fines ranging from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000.