高速公路帶來便利？還是破壞？

Generally speaking, people have a tendency to accept that motorways facilitate the convenience of commuting, traveling and shipment. It is doubtful whether many people know the problems caused by motorways. There is a lot of evidence to connect motorways with destruction of natural ecology. I feel the question is very controversial whether human beings’ needs are more meaningful.

Many people agree that motorways represent development of towns to cities. It brings positive industrial progress and connection for stimulating economic growth. Efficiency is the magical word for activists to promote motorways construction. Yet, as far as I am concerned, traffic congestion on motorways is a serious problem nowadays in many countries. Cars impasse during rush hour does not help people travel more quickly. Huge number of cars burning fossil fuels cause air pollution. Clearly then it also generates dangerouslevels of sound pollution. Despite the fact that governments take several measures to compensate local residents, motorways construction would disturb natural scenery and affect wild animals’ living environment. Local eco-system could not be returned to its original view by reinforced concrete.

The government clearly has the responsibility to help reduce the number of cars on motorways by execution of ride share policy during peak hours. It is therefore a good idea to encourage citizens to take public transportation not only lower volume of automobiles but also decrease destruction of pollution. Surroundings around the motorways are designed as commercial districts which move local people to residential areas far away from motorways for better living quality and also help to raise the rate of local employment.

It seems to me if the government spend more money on environmental protection, it is absolutely vital that both sides would probably be more balanced. Take local railway and motorway connected with Hualien and Taitung for example, Hua-tung Highway (Hualien-Taitung Coastal Highway) built by the Japanese government in 1933 and completed by current Taiwan government in 1968. The government at that time believed that “faith will move mountains,” and did not concern itself about natural environment. Mudslides and debris flow disaster which happens during typhoon seasons all the time not only affect traffic connection but also caused big number of deaths. However, Hua-Tung Line, Eastern Line of the Taiwan Railway built by the Japanese government started from 1910 and fully completed never has similar issue because it spent more time on research to reduce the influence of destruction to the environment. As a result of that, long term consideration is more significant than short-term needs.