Soochow University invites National Land Management Agency official to speak on urban planning's shift to 'people-centric' approach
Soochow University hosted a lecture by Deputy Director Zhao Qihong of the National Land Management Agency, Ministry of Interior, discussing the transformation of urban planning from 'car-centric' to 'people-centric'. The event emphasized the importance of creating urban spaces that prioritize people, especially in an aging society, through pedestrian-friendly designs and barrier-free environments.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 17:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 18:02 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 21:23 (3h 21m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chih-hung, Taipei, April 24) Soochow University recently invited Zhao Qihong, Deputy Director of the Urban Infrastructure Engineering Division of the National Land Management Agency, Ministry of Interior, to give a lecture. He shared insights on the transformation of urban planning from a "car-centric" to a "people-centric" approach, encouraging students to consider how people can once again be placed at the core of cities in an aging society.
Soochow University today issued a press release stating that its General Education Center recently invited Zhao Qihong to campus to share his philosophical thinking on "people-centered" transportation.
Zhao Qihong pointed out in his lecture that over the past few decades, domestic urban planning has mostly focused on traffic efficiency, forming a "car-centric" spatial structure. This not only squeezed pedestrian and public spaces but also indirectly caused multiple problems related to traffic safety hazards and environmental quality.
Facing an aging society, Zhao Qihong believes that the essence of a city lies in serving human life. Therefore, a "people-centric" shift in thinking is the core key to building sustainable and safe cities.
Zhao Qihong said that in recent years, many people-centered transportation policies have been successively promoted, including pedestrian priority zones, intersection deceleration designs, and optimization of barrier-free environments, all of which enhance pedestrian safety and urban livability.
Chen Guan-lin, Director of Soochow University's General Education Center, shared that putting "people" back at the center of the city is not just about the allocation and adjustment of public spaces, but rather establishing a whole new set of values. It requires in-depth analysis from philosophical, institutional, and practical levels and the implementation of policy effectiveness.
Soochow University hopes that through this lecture, students will be conveyed that cities are no longer just for vehicles, but sustainable venues that carry life and safety. People-centric transportation further requires legal revisions, inter-agency cooperation, and public participation to jointly promote it. (Editor: Guan Chung-wei) 1150424
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chih-hung, Taipei, April 24) Soochow University recently invited Zhao Qihong, Deputy Director of the Urban Infrastructure Engineering Division of the National Land Management Agency, Ministry of Interior, to give a lecture. He shared insights on the transformation of urban planning from a "car-centric" to a "people-centric" approach, encouraging students to consider how people can once again be placed at the core of cities in an aging society.
Soochow University today issued a press release stating that its General Education Center recently invited Zhao Qihong to campus to share his philosophical thinking on "people-centered" transportation.
Zhao Qihong pointed out in his lecture that over the past few decades, domestic urban planning has mostly focused on traffic efficiency, forming a "car-centric" spatial structure. This not only squeezed pedestrian and public spaces but also indirectly caused multiple problems related to traffic safety hazards and environmental quality.
Facing an aging society, Zhao Qihong believes that the essence of a city lies in serving human life. Therefore, a "people-centric" shift in thinking is the core key to building sustainable and safe cities.
Zhao Qihong said that in recent years, many people-centered transportation policies have been successively promoted, including pedestrian priority zones, intersection deceleration designs, and optimization of barrier-free environments, all of which enhance pedestrian safety and urban livability.
Chen Guan-lin, Director of Soochow University's General Education Center, shared that putting "people" back at the center of the city is not just about the allocation and adjustment of public spaces, but rather establishing a whole new set of values. It requires in-depth analysis from philosophical, institutional, and practical levels and the implementation of policy effectiveness.
Soochow University hopes that through this lecture, students will be conveyed that cities are no longer just for vehicles, but sustainable venues that carry life and safety. People-centric transportation further requires legal revisions, inter-agency cooperation, and public participation to jointly promote it. (Editor: Guan Chung-wei) 1150424