Nation's First Shared 'Kangaroo Bike' Debuts: Chiang Chi-chen Launches 'Taichung Family Flavor' with 13 New Policies

Facing the severe national security challenge of low fertility and population decline, Taichung mayoral candidate and Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-chen held a press conference on the 10th to launch his 'Taichung Family Flavor' policy platform. Following last week’s release of the 'Taichung Flavor' campaign website, Chiang continued his city branding vision by formally unveiling 13 comprehensive new parenting policies. Together with attendees, he proclaimed the slogan: 'Childcare Friendliness Upgraded, Happy Childbearing Moving Forward!' Chiang declared that through economic, medical, transportation, and environmental initiatives, Taichung would become Taiwan’s warmest flagship city for raising children.

Legislative Member Wang Yu-min, Taichung Councilor Chang-Liao Nai-lun, and councilor candidates Hsu Yu-hsuan and Wu Tsung-hsueh attended in strong support. Wu even brought his second son, 'Zhongshu,' to personally experience family-friendly facilities, adding warmth to the event.

Chiang emphasized that fertility rates and population size directly impact national and urban sustainability. Taiwan has faced a serious challenge in maintaining newborn numbers above 100,000 annually. Drawing from international experiences, European countries and South Korea have adopted 'family-oriented' policy models—alleviating overall family burdens through flexible parenting support, economic relief, and psychological care—to successfully halt declining birth rates and drive recovery.

Chiang stressed that building upon the solid foundation of public childcare centers and family hubs established by current Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen, he will 'amplify, accelerate, and expand' policies so that young people feel secure throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting in Taichung, realizing the vision of 'Childcare Friendliness Upgraded, Happy Childbearing Moving Forward.'

Campaign Deputy Chair Wang Yu-min noted that Chiang’s policies center on women and children. The establishment of an interdepartmental 'Women and Children Development Committee' will serve as the central brain for policy planning. Fully subsidizing parental leave pay—a nationwide first—is a major benefit. Wang highlighted that expanding psychological counseling subsidies to 'three sessions per parent' ensures professional support for fathers as well. The 'Kangaroo Bike' public bicycle design balances safety with joyful parent-child moments. Each policy aims to tangibly address parenting pain points, collectively achieving 'Childcare Friendliness Upgraded, Happy Childbearing Moving Forward.'

Taichung Councilor Chang-Liao Nai-lun, speaking from her dual roles as mother and councilor, shared that child-rearing—from preconception to postnatal care—poses immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges. She strongly endorsed Chiang’s comprehensive proposals, including mental health counseling for new parents, enhanced postnatal nanny services, full subsidies for RSV and enterovirus vaccines to build a healthcare safety net, and AMH testing and egg-freezing subsidies. Chang-Liao emphasized that the city government must be the ultimate ally for parents both inside and outside the home. Good policies require execution-ready teams, and she pledged to continue advocating for women’s and children’s rights in the council alongside Chiang to realize their shared vision.

Councilor candidate Hsu Yu-hsuan, also a father, addressed mobility and accessibility, stating that creating a family-friendly city is crucial amid low fertility. He particularly praised four initiatives: adding 'Kangaroo Bike' shared bicycles, offering four hours of free family parking, extending the 'Good Luck Shuttle' service to one year postpartum, and popularizing 'Family White Houses' in parks and public spaces. These measures make outings easier and less stressful for parents with children.

Fellow three-child father and councilor candidate Wu Tsung-hsueh empathized, noting that young people hesitate to have children due to the dual pressures of childcare costs and work demands. Chiang’s proposals—including a dedicated cross-department unit, full parental leave pay, increased quasi-public childcare subsidies, NT$1,000 monthly allowances for non-enrolled families, and a smart temporary childcare service bookable via app—can truly achieve 'Trust the Right People, Parenting Made Easy,' providing substantial stress relief to young families.

On specific policy details, Chiang plans to establish a 'Women and Children Development Committee' chaired by the mayor to integrate departments. He will gradually fill the remaining 20% salary gap during parental leave to achieve full pay. Quasi-public childcare subsidies will rise to NT$3,000 monthly, aiming toward zero fees for second and subsequent children, while families not using childcare will receive NT$1,000 monthly. The 'Taichung Temporary Care Booking App' will enable one-click reservations for nearby temporary care, and businesses will be encouraged to set up childcare facilities.

Additional measures include three counseling sessions each for parents, increasing home-visiting postnatal nanny support to 40 hours, subsidizing RSV vaccines for pregnant women at 28–36 weeks, and expanding enterovirus vaccine subsidies. For women’s career planning, AMH testing and egg-freezing subsidies will be enhanced.

For outdoor environments, Chiang plans four hours of free family parking, extending the 'Good Luck Shuttle' to one year postpartum, and promoting 'Family White Houses' modeled after the one at Wenxin Forest Park. At the press conference, the multifunctional shared 'Kangaroo Bike' was unveiled. Chiang personally test-rode the child-seat-equipped, electric-assist Kangaroo Bike, demonstrating the convenience and warmth of future parent-child co-riding.

Chiang concluded by stressing that good policies must genuinely solve parents’ pain points. With an execution-capable team, he will ensure these policies are implemented, achieving 'Trust the Right People, Parenting Made Easy,' and working with all citizens to realize 'Childcare Friendliness Upgraded, Happy Childbearing Moving Forward,' enabling young people building lives and careers in Taichung to live happily and securely.