2026-05-18
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Mayor Lu stated that, in order to encourage young families to feel willing and confident about having children, the city government has launched a transportation subsidy for pregnant women. Each expectant mother is eligible for a taxi subsidy of up to NT$200 per trip for as many as 30 trips, helping ease the burden of transportation for prenatal checkups and daily outings. Since the policy was launched, the response has been enthusiastic, with more than 8,000 expectant mothers already applying and more than 87,000 rides provided in total. Considering that younger generations are accustomed to using multiple ride hailing platforms such as Uber, the city government has integrated Uber and diversified taxis through cross bureau cooperation among the Social Affairs Bureau, the Transportation Bureau, and the Digital Development Bureau, officially upgrading the service to Pregnancy Taxi 2.0.
Mayor Lu pointed out that, with Uber joining the program, the number of vehicles available to expectant mothers has increased from more than 5,000 to 9,100, representing a substantial 65 percent increase in service capacity and providing greater convenience and more diverse choices. From application and ride booking to subsidy settlement, Taichung’s pregnancy taxi service is now fully handled online, in line with the usage habits of younger generations while also reducing carbon emissions and improving efficiency. The city government also continues to promote workplace childcare, parent-child centers, and childcare allowances, in the hope of easing the burden on young families through comprehensive childcare benefits.
The Social Affairs Bureau explained that there are two payment methods for the transportation subsidy for pregnant women. If taking a ride with any of the 11 participating fleets, namely Taiwan Da, Metropolitan, Chung Hua Da, Chung Chang, Taichung Satellite, yoxi, Yung Bao, Yung Long, Yi Mei, Fly Dog, and Kuo Tung, users should go to the pregnancy ride page in the Taichung Pass App and select "Scan to pay when getting off". They may then scan the QR code provided by the driver to deduct the fare. If using the Uber App, users should go to the pregnancy ride page in the Taichung Pass App and select "Claim a voucher before booking a ride". After redeeming the ride voucher, they may then book the ride.
The Social Affairs Bureau stated that the transportation subsidy applies to pregnant women who are nationals of the Republic of China and have household registration in Taichung City, as well as pregnant foreign nationals whose spouse has household registration in Taichung City. Before the expected due date, applicants may apply online by submitting a Maternal Health Handbook, identification card, proof of prenatal examination, or a diagnosis certificate. Once approved, the electronic ride credit will be deposited directly into the Taichung Pass App, which must be updated to version V2.79 or later. The credit may be used from the date of approval until six months after the due date. Each pregnancy is eligible for 30 trips, with a maximum subsidy of NT$200 per trip.
The city government continues to promote childcare allowances, childcare subsidies, at-home postpartum care services, the nation’s most affordable public childcare services, and free parent-child centers, providing comprehensive support for family childcare needs and striving to build a child-friendly city. For more information about the transportation subsidy for pregnant women, please visit the official website of the Social Affairs Bureau (https://www.society.taichung.gov.tw/2956141/post) or the Facebook fan page Social Affairs with Love, Warm Taichung.
Those attending today’s event included Taichung Mayor Shiow-Yen Lu, City Councilors Shih-Chou Liu, Pei-Han Lin, and Ta-Hung Yang, City Consultants Chun-Ming Chiang and Chung-Lun Wang, Social Affairs Bureau Director Jing-Chih Liao, Transportation Bureau Director Chao-Fu Yeh, Sports Bureau Director Chih-Hsiang Yu, Digital Development Bureau Director Ku-Lung Lin, Personnel Office Director Yueh-Chun Chen, Deputy Director of the Education Bureau Yuan-Ju Lai, Deputy Director of the Health Bureau Hui-Tzu Chiu, Chief Secretary of the Labor Affairs Bureau Shu-Chu Shih, Chief Secretary of the MRT Engineering Bureau Chao-Jung Lien, Senior Executive Officer of the Tourism and Travel Bureau Pao-Liang Chin, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Urban Development Bureau Kuo-Chi Hsieh, Senior Police Inspector of the Police Department Li-I Chiu, district chiefs, representatives of Taichung’s 12 participating pregnancy taxi fleets and platforms, and representatives of pregnant women. Deputy President of the Legislative Yuan Chi-Chen Chiang, Legislators Ting-Wei Lo, Ching-Lung Chen, Jen Huang, and Wei-Hsiang Liao, as well as City Councilors Hsin-Hui Huang, Wen-Cheng Chen, Chung Li, and Ting-Hsiu Chen, also sent representatives to convey their regards.
