Councilors Urge Taichung City Government to Increase Rehabilitation Bus Budget; City Government Actively Considers Adjustment
Despite high usage, Taichung City's rehabilitation bus service faces issues like difficulty in booking and donating vehicles. Councilors Lin Qifeng and Shi Zhichang urged the city government to review the public lottery surplus distribution fund and increase the operating budget. The Taichung City Social Affairs Bureau stated it would actively study increasing the relevant budget.
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- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 17:46
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Lin Qifeng and Shi Zhichang stated during a business inquiry at the Taichung City Council today that Taichung City's rehabilitation bus service provides approximately 900,000 rides annually, is not limited by household registration, and is free to use, with a carpooling rate as high as 77%. However, behind these impressive achievements, there are dual dilemmas of "unable to call a car" and "unable to donate a car," which severely impact the basic right of people with disabilities to go out. They demanded that the city government immediately review the public lottery surplus distribution fund to secure an increased operating budget for rehabilitation buses.
Lin Qifeng said that he has repeatedly received complaints about the difficulty of booking rehabilitation buses, either due to insufficient vehicles or inconvenient routes that prevent carpooling, leading to unmet needs for urgent medical treatment and rehabilitation. What is even more surprising is that his friend hoped to donate 1.5 million NTD to purchase a small rehabilitation bus to give back to society, fulfilling his mother's last wish, but was rejected by the city government on the grounds that "the limit of 23 donated vehicles for this year has been reached." Even donating an ambulance required queuing, creating an absurd situation where "one wants to donate but cannot."
Lin Qifeng pointed out that the core problem is not a lack of vehicles, but rather the city government's lack of subsequent operational capacity, including the need to raise budgets for maintenance fees, fuel costs, taxes, and driver manpower. Even parking spaces are difficult to find, leading to a predicament in Taichung City where "citizens can afford to donate, but the city government cannot afford to maintain," thereby limiting the overall service capacity.
Lin Qifeng stated that the operating budget for rehabilitation buses is funded by the Taichung City Public Lottery Surplus Distribution Fund. From 276 vehicles budgeted at approximately 230 million NTD in 2023 to 290 vehicles budgeted at approximately 260 million NTD this year, the increase has only been about 30 million NTD over four years, which is clearly insufficient. He demanded that the city government comprehensively review the use of the public lottery surplus distribution fund and gradually increase the operating expenses for rehabilitation buses.
Liao Jingzhi, Director of the Taichung City Social Affairs Bureau, stated that as Taichung City's population increases, the city government has also gradually increased the number of rehabilitation buses, but the relevant operating expenses need to be funded through the public lottery surplus distribution fund, and they will actively study increasing the relevant budget. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150409
Lin Qifeng said that he has repeatedly received complaints about the difficulty of booking rehabilitation buses, either due to insufficient vehicles or inconvenient routes that prevent carpooling, leading to unmet needs for urgent medical treatment and rehabilitation. What is even more surprising is that his friend hoped to donate 1.5 million NTD to purchase a small rehabilitation bus to give back to society, fulfilling his mother's last wish, but was rejected by the city government on the grounds that "the limit of 23 donated vehicles for this year has been reached." Even donating an ambulance required queuing, creating an absurd situation where "one wants to donate but cannot."
Lin Qifeng pointed out that the core problem is not a lack of vehicles, but rather the city government's lack of subsequent operational capacity, including the need to raise budgets for maintenance fees, fuel costs, taxes, and driver manpower. Even parking spaces are difficult to find, leading to a predicament in Taichung City where "citizens can afford to donate, but the city government cannot afford to maintain," thereby limiting the overall service capacity.
Lin Qifeng stated that the operating budget for rehabilitation buses is funded by the Taichung City Public Lottery Surplus Distribution Fund. From 276 vehicles budgeted at approximately 230 million NTD in 2023 to 290 vehicles budgeted at approximately 260 million NTD this year, the increase has only been about 30 million NTD over four years, which is clearly insufficient. He demanded that the city government comprehensively review the use of the public lottery surplus distribution fund and gradually increase the operating expenses for rehabilitation buses.
Liao Jingzhi, Director of the Taichung City Social Affairs Bureau, stated that as Taichung City's population increases, the city government has also gradually increased the number of rehabilitation buses, but the relevant operating expenses need to be funded through the public lottery surplus distribution fund, and they will actively study increasing the relevant budget. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150409