Taipei street scene with green pedestrian walkways.

Urban Traffic Revolution: Can a Splash of Green Paint Save Lives?

Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how Taipei's innovative neighborhood traffic program is turning city streets into safer spaces with simple yet effective solutions."

In bustling urban environments, the dance between pedestrians, vehicles, and motorcycles often feels more like a chaotic collision course than a carefully choreographed ballet. Traffic safety emerges as a critical concern, demanding innovative solutions to protect vulnerable road users and ensure the smooth flow of urban life. Globally, road accidents claim approximately 1.3 million lives each year, leaving countless others with non-fatal injuries, a stark reminder of the urgent need for effective traffic management strategies.

Cities worldwide are experimenting with various traffic control measures—sidewalks, crosswalks, speed limits, and calming devices like road humps. While these interventions aim to reduce accidents and save lives, understanding their true impact remains a challenge. Do these policies genuinely improve safety, or do they inadvertently create new hazards? Gaining deeper insights into the effectiveness of traffic management strategies is essential for creating safer, more livable urban spaces.

Now, let's turn our attention to Taipei, Taiwan, a city renowned for its vibrant street life and high density of motorcycles. Here, an ambitious initiative known as the Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP) is transforming local streets and alleys. Launched in August 2015, the NTEIP introduces simple yet strategic changes designed to enhance safety and reduce traffic accidents. Let’s explore the nuts and bolts of this program and explore the measurable effects of these community-level interventions.

Taipei's Traffic Transformation: How Does the Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program Work?

Taipei street scene with green pedestrian walkways.

The NTEIP encompasses several key components designed to improve safety and manage traffic flow in Taipei's dense urban environment. The core strategies include:

These initiatives collectively aim to create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly environment by visually delineating pedestrian spaces and encouraging slower, more cautious driving behavior. By focusing on simple, cost-effective measures, the NTEIP seeks to maximize its impact on traffic safety throughout Taipei's neighborhoods.

Green Painted Walkways: Painting pedestrian lanes green on narrow roads without sidewalks to create dedicated pedestrian zones.
Adjusted No-Parking Zones: Modifying no-parking zones (red/yellow lines) to alleviate congestion and increase road space.
Speed Limit and Stop/Slow Signs: Installing clear speed limit and stop/slow signs in alleys to encourage slower vehicle speeds.

To gauge the effectiveness of the NTEIP, researchers analyzed administrative traffic accident data, focusing on the program's staggered implementation across different neighborhoods. By comparing accident rates before and after the intervention in treated areas with control areas, they sought to isolate the causal impact of the NTEIP measures. This approach allowed them to determine whether the program genuinely contributed to reducing traffic accidents and injuries, or whether other factors were at play.

The Road Ahead: Applying Taipei's Lessons to the World

Taipei's experience offers valuable lessons for cities grappling with similar traffic safety challenges. By embracing simple, cost-effective strategies and prioritizing pedestrian safety, urban planners can create safer, more livable environments for all. As cities worldwide continue to grow and evolve, innovative approaches like the NTEIP will be essential for navigating the complexities of urban traffic management and ensuring the well-being of their communities. By adequately illuminating road markings or signs at night to insure their clear visibility, this would help alert and guide nighttime road users and thus improve road safety. Our research indicates that cost-effective solutions like painting pedestrian walkways green can significantly enhance traffic safety, even in densely populated areas with high levels of motorcycle traffic such as Taipei.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What are the key components of Taipei's Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP)?

The Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP) in Taipei includes several core strategies. These are the installation of green painted walkways to designate pedestrian zones, adjusted no-parking zones to reduce congestion and increase road space, and the implementation of speed limit and stop/slow signs to encourage slower driving. These elements work together to create a safer and more pedestrian-friendly environment within Taipei's neighborhoods.

How did Taipei's Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP) aim to reduce traffic accidents?

The NTEIP in Taipei sought to reduce traffic accidents by implementing several key measures. Green painted walkways aimed to create dedicated pedestrian zones, thereby separating pedestrians from vehicle traffic. Adjusted no-parking zones improved road space and traffic flow, reducing potential conflicts. Speed limit and stop/slow signs were strategically placed in alleys to encourage slower vehicle speeds, which is crucial in high-density areas. By combining these elements, the NTEIP sought to visually delineate pedestrian spaces and promote safer driving behavior.

What method did researchers use to assess the impact of the Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP) on traffic safety in Taipei?

To assess the impact of the NTEIP, researchers analyzed administrative traffic accident data, focusing on the program's phased implementation across different neighborhoods. By comparing accident rates before and after the program's introduction in intervention areas with control areas, they aimed to isolate the causal impact of the NTEIP measures. This approach helped determine whether the program genuinely reduced traffic accidents and injuries, accounting for other possible influencing factors. This approach is critical to understanding whether a program is working and to what extent.

What is the significance of green painted walkways within the Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP)?

Green painted walkways are a critical element within the NTEIP in Taipei, especially on roads lacking sidewalks. The purpose of these painted zones is to visually create dedicated pedestrian spaces, improving the safety of pedestrians by clearly separating them from vehicle traffic. This initiative is particularly important in high-density urban areas with significant motorcycle traffic like Taipei, where pedestrians face higher risk. By making pedestrian areas visually distinct, the NTEIP enhances safety and promotes a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

Beyond Taipei, what broader implications does the Neighborhood Traffic Environment Improvement Program (NTEIP) have for global urban planning and traffic safety?

The NTEIP in Taipei offers valuable lessons for cities worldwide tackling traffic safety challenges. By focusing on simple, cost-effective strategies and prioritizing pedestrian safety, urban planners can apply similar interventions to create safer, more livable environments. Key to its broader significance is the emphasis on visual cues, speed management, and dedicated pedestrian spaces, which are universally applicable principles. As cities continue to grow, innovative programs like the NTEIP will be essential for navigating the complexities of urban traffic management, ensuring the well-being of communities globally, and saving lives.