Proceedings of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol.

6,
2007

EXPLORING ISSUES AND STRATEGIES OF DEVELOPING SKYWAY

SYSTEMS:A CASE STUDY OF THE TAIPEI SHIN-YI DISTRICT
Jen Te Pai
Assistant Professor
Department of Land Economics, National Chengchi University
No.64, Sec.2, ZhiNan Rd., Taipei, 11605, Taiwan (R.O.C)
TEL: 886-2-29393091-51663 Fax:886-2-29390251
E-mail:[email protected]

Abstract: In an urban setting, the development of a skyway system has been seen as an
important facility to improve local environment, create the urban image, and enhance the
prosperity of the area. Furthermore, skyways can offer vantage points for pedestrians to
observe the city and enjoy the unique view of the urban streetscape. This paper therefore
argues that skyway systems are capable of forming a vibrant element in an urban context.
As the development of skyway systems has recently become a notice in Taiwan, this paper
selects the skyway system in the Shin-Yi Planning District, Taipei City as the subject of the
research and conducts on-site observations and the questionnaire survey. The survey result
shows that the majority of the respondents are content with the skyway system as a whole.
However, several issues such as the lack of directional signage, deficient protection from
the elements, and incomplete connection with public transit require more discussions in the
subsequent skyway development. To build a sustainable skyway system, planners should
pay much attention to the three critical strategies—integrating with the public transit system,
providing a pedestrian-friendly environment, and enhancing the urban image and landscapes
—in their skyway plans.

Keywords: Skyway, Pedestrian, Shin-Yi District

1. INTRODUCTION

Since the 1960s, skyway systems (also known as skywalk systems) have become an
important feature in many cities around the world. The Twin Cities in the United States, the
combination of Minneapolis and St. Paul, have the most extensive skyway system in the
world, while their Asian counterparts such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore have also
developed the system. Recently, the application of skyway systems in an urban area has
been adopted by several local governments in Taiwan. For example, Taipei City has built its
skyway system in the Shin-Yi Planning District and Taipei County has planned to construct
a system in the Particular Area for Xin Ban Qiao Station. Moreover, the plan of constructing
‘Ocean Plaza’ in Keelung City has been in progress and the ‘illuminated bridge plan’ in
Kaohsiung City has been proposed by private developers. As a result, this paper reviews the
related literature and case studies to examine the notion and the application of skyway
systems. This paper further conducts a questionnaire survey and on-site observations to
evaluate the achievement of the Taipei skyway system. The ultimate goal of this paper is to
provide development strategies for the Taiwanese cities showing interest in building skyway
systems.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW AND CASE STUDIES

2.1 Context of Skyway System

A skyway is a pedestrian walkway across the street and connecting adjacent buildings. A
skyway system, on the other hand, refers to a network of elevated walkways that link
individual skyways and buildings. Skyway systems are usually linked to retail space,
professional offices, and department stores in a city core. The idea of allocating pedestrians
and vehicles into different layers was first proposed by Europeans (Hass-Klau, 1990). The
concept of segregating pedestrians from traffic, however, has mostly been realized in North
America (Robertson, 1994).

2.2 Case Studies: Learning from Foreign Counterparts

(A) Objectives of Developing Skyways
Because of the inclement weather in winter, Minneapolis and St. Paul built skyway systems
to protect pedestrian from the elements. On August 27, 1962, the first skyway in
Minneapolis was opened, which instantly became a local scenic spot. Moreover, the skyway
increased the property values of those second-story retailers and had attracted large numbers
of people to the area. Consequently, the skyway system had been continuously developed in
Minneapolis and had formed a traffic network in the city core (Kaufman, 1985). From then
on, the major goal of building the skyway system to provide a climate-controlled
environment had shifted to spur the city’s economy.

In the 1980s, the local government of Chiba Prefecture, Japan funded a specific
organization to design its skyway system in the Makuhari district (Lin, 1995). The skyway
system project was initiated by the public sector, with the intention to strengthen the public
transit system, expand the service area, and improve the entire area’s development. The
private developers, however, supported the project for a different reason. That is, they
applied for linkages to the system in order to increase their own profits. As a result, one can
conclude that the skyway system in the Makuhari area is constructed for the transportation
and economic motives.
Town Planning Board of Hong Kong realized that the conflict between automobiles and
pedestrians had become serious in the 1960s and therefore proposed a skyway system
project to separate pedestrians from vehicles, which was later rejected by the government.
Nevertheless, The Hong Kong Lang, an enterprise that owns most of the properties in the
Central District, built skyways to connect two buildings owned by the company—The
Mandarin Hotel and Prince’s Building. The success of this example in stimulating economic
development inspired the Hong Kong government to actively design an extensive skyway
system that is accessible to everyone within the Central District.

In Singapore, there is a major commercial area developed along Orchard Road and Scotts
Road. In order to facilitate pedestrian movement, the Urban Redevelopment Authority
encourages the development of a comprehensive pedestrian belt and thus permits the
erection of skyways linking the buildings in the commercial area (Huang, 2001). The
objective of building a skyway system in Singapore is therefore similar to that of the Hong
Kong system—vitalizing the economic development.

2.3 Skyways: Functions and Concerns

The skyway systems have been developed in different cities for more than four decades. It
is noticeable that skyway systems have caused several issues while they have achieved the
initial goals in terms of the advocates’ expectations. This section therefore identifies the
benefits and issues encountered in the cities that have built skyway systems.
(A) Benefits of Skyways
To provide a pedestrian-friendly environment and encourage the commercial development
in a city core are regarded as the two major and interrelated advantages of skyways.

1) Creating Pedestrian-Friendly Environment

Robertson (1994) argues that skyways can separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic, thus
improving pedestrian safety. Moreover, skyway systems, which are connected to numerous
buildings in downtown, allow pedestrians to freely stroll the city. A skyway system can also
create a vibrant environment if it functions as well as the path described in Image of the
City (Lynch, 1960), which provides vantage points for pedestrians to enjoy different views
of the city.

2) Encouraging Commercial Development

 Traffic Aspect
People have changed their travel behaviors because of the development of skyways in
downtown. The skyway system allows people to park in the parking garages located on the
fringes of the downtown area and then circulate through the system to reach their
destinations in the city core. Such a comfortable, safe, and interesting pedestrian space
therefore attracts the public to constantly return to the downtown (Robertson, 1994).
 Economic Aspect
Some cities not only build skyways for improving pedestrian space but also expect that
skyways can attract suburbanites to downtown and therefore revitalize the downtown area.
For instance, the retailing in downtown Minneapolis had been deteriorating before the
erection of the skyway system. Minneapolis’s retail sector, however, was able to recover
after the city vigorously built skyways in its downtown. Skyways also caused the same
effect in St. Paul, leading Kaufman (1985) to argue that skyway systems are capable of
increasing the economic value of a multilevel city.
Besides the ability to attract people downtown, Kaufman (1985) also credits the skyway
system for assisting in transforming the city core into a popular spot with a mixture of land
uses. He indicates that the skyway system has successfully linked publicly owned buildings
(e.g., the city hall), private office buildings, communities, and open space, thus forming a
complete pedestrian network in the city core. In consequence, the skyway system helps
stimulate the economic development.

(B) Concerns on Skyway Development

With the advantages stated above, the skyway system seemed to become a favored feature
for pedestrians and planners. As cities continuously grow, skyway systems, however, have
resulted in some negative impacts and have become the target of criticism. Following is an
account of some of concerns surrounding the construction of skyways.

1) Impact on Street-Level Retail

Some skyways are built to protect pedestrians from the elements; however, from his
observations in 1985, Robertson showed that even on a warm, sunny day, between 71-87
percent of skyway users in four of the surveyed cities (i.e., Cincinnati, Des Moines,
Minneapolis, and St. Paul) said that they would choose skyways over the sidewalks. The
study implies that people become so accustomed to the convenience offered by skyways and
use them regardless of the weather.

As many consumer behaviors have concentrated on the skyway level, the skyway system
therefore results in the magnet effect. In St. Paul, while 80 percent of the retail businesses
take place at the skyway level, the street-level share has steadily decreased (Kaufman,
1985). Robertson (1993) argues that the decline in property values and competitiveness of
street-level retailing has made the street-level retail space unable to lure new stores. As a
result, the depressed street-level retail fails to attract people to stay on the streets and the
retail sales, in turn, have continued to decrease.

Whyte (1988) indicates that the occurrence of the negative impact on street-level retail is
not because the skyway system fails to fulfill its goal, but because it functions too well. It
therefore requires more discussion on whether the economic prosperity of skyway-
connected establishments is merely a redistribution of exiting resources (Robertson, 1994).

2) Urban Design and City Image

Some critiques point out that many of the skyways were not harmoniously integrated with
the buildings, especially the old buildings that are worthy of preservation. Robertson (1993)
specifies that although the skyways offer the unique view of the streetscapes, they have
sometimes blocked street views and vistas. Furthermore, Robertson (1993) argues that
skyway systems can result in two types of negative impact. First, skyways keep pedestrians
from walking on the sidewalks, affect the vitality at street level, and influence the public’s
sensation, visual or mental, regarding the image of the city. Furthermore, skyways are
usually linked to professional offices, luxury hotels, high-end stores, and expensive
condominiums, thus resulting in a downtown that is perceived as elitist.

3) Issues on Traffic
Besides the criticisms stated above, skyway systems also result in some traffic issues. First,
the skyway entrances are usually located in private buildings, making it hard for the skyway
users to find their ways to the system. Robertson (1994) therefore stresses the importance of
a clear directional system. Robertson (1994) observes that some of the skyways in
Minneapolis are not open in the nighttime or on weekends, which affects the accessibility of
the skyway system. Moreover, the operating hours are inconsistent on holidays, causing
users to be unsure of when the skyways are open.

3. RESEARCH METHOD

The literature above not only discussed the advantages of building skyway systems but also
identified a number of issues and concerns regarding the construction and operation of
skyways. This paper therefore selects the Shin-Yi District in Taipei as the survey area to
conduct on-site observations and questionnaires. The skyways located in the Shin-Yi
Planning District, Taipei City, are the first and the only to be connected as a comprehensive
system in Taiwan. By conducting the research, this paper aims to objectively examine the
Shin-Yi system, explore the benefits and issues caused by the system, and ultimately
provide feasible strategies for skyway development in the future.

3.1 Background of Shin-Yi Skyways

Due to a variety of attractions such as department stores, entertainment establishments, and
exhibition halls, the Shin-Yi District in Taipei has been experiencing heavy pedestrian
volumes and traffic congestion on weekends. The city therefore built the skyway system to
enhance the south-north oriented commercial belt, create a multi-layered pedestrian
environment, and provide a convenient and safe shopping route. In addition, by erecting
such a system, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Nangang Line situated in the northern end of
the system can be connected to the now-constructed MRT Shin-Yi Line at the southern end.

The skyway system construction project was confirmed during the second comprehensive
review of Shin-Yi Planning District in 2000. The first construction started in May, 2003
includes three skyways; one connects Taipei World Trade Center and Taipei Financial
Center (a.k.a. Taipei 101) whiles the other
two links Taipei 101 to Grand Hyatt
Taipei and NY NY Department Store (see
Figure 1). These skyways were later open
in the end of 2003. Moreover, the
skyways connecting NY NY Department
Store, Warner Village Cinema Center, and
the three buildings of Shin-Kong
Mitsukoshi Department Store (i.e., A8,
A9, and A11) were open to the public on
December 15, 2004. The Shin-Yi skyway
system measures 2,293 meters long after
the final construction of the skyway Figure 1 Skyway system of Shi-Yi District
linked A8 to the A4 building was
completed.

3.2 Questionnaire Design

Based on the literature review and the understanding of the Shin-Yi system, this paper
designs the questionnaire to examine the system from four main perspectives: the location
of skyways and the system-wide design, the image of the environment, the functionality and
design of skyways, and the pedestrian space. The intention of conducting the questionnaire
survey is to know of the public’s experience and attitude towards the skyway system and
therefore enable this paper to analyze the relation between the subjects’ responses and the
skyway planning.

3.3 Survey Process

This paper began with the on-site observations and collected related information during
peak and non-peak hour of weekdays and weekends in the 2nd and 3rd week of August, 2005.
The questionnaire survey, accomplished by convenience sampling, was carried out in
January, 2006 and 146 valid questionnaires were retrieved. The subjects of the survey are
the pedestrians on the skyway system and the questionnaires were distributed during peak
periods—4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

3.4 Background Information of Respondents

Following is the background information about the total of 146 respondents.
1) Age: Under 20 years old: 41 copies (28% of total respondents); Age of 20-40: 72 copies
(49%); Age of 40-60: 32 copies (22%); Over age 60: 1 copy (1%).
2) Gender: Male: 70 copies (48%); Female: 76 copies (52%).
3) Education: Elementary school and below: 0 copy (0%); Junior high school: 7 copies (5%);
Senior high school/Higher professional school: 38 copies (26%); College: 76 copies
(52%); Graduate school: 25 copies (17%).
4) Occupation: Student: 55 copies (38%); Service sector: 40 copies (27%); Military,
government employees, and teachers: 18 copies (12%); Retail: 25 copies (17%);
Industrial sector: 4 copies (3%); Agricultural sector: 0 copy (0%); Unemployment: 1
copy (15); Other: 3 copies (2%).

3.5 Reliability Analysis

To ensure the effectiveness and credibility of the survey results, this paper conducts the
reliability analysis by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to inspect the consistency of the
questionnaire. A survey can be defined as having the relatively higher reliability if the alpha
coefficient is more than 0.70. Table 1 shows the coefficient value of each survey based on
different aspects. From the reliability analysis, it is evident that the results of the
questionnaire are highly reliable.
Table 1. Reliability analysis of questionnaire
Dimension No. of Question Cronbach α
Location and systematic planning 7 0.8371
Environmental Image 5 0.7814
Mechanism and design of Structure 8 0.7495
Pedestrian Space 10 0.8166

4. BENEFITS, CONCERNS AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

By reviewing the related literature and conducting on-site observations and the
questionnaire survey, this paper is bale to analyze the advantages and downsides of the
current skyway system and further provide a variety of planning strategies for skyway
development.
4.1 Benefits of the Shin-Yi system
(A) Creating a Pedestrian-Friendly Environment
To create a climate-controlled environment and offer a convenient connection between
major buildings are the two objectives of developing the Shin-Yi system, which are also the
two advantages of skyways recognized by the majority of total respondents (see Figure 2).
Another two benefits favorable among the respondents are ‘needless to wait traffic lights’
and ‘avoiding the conflict between pedestrians and vehicles’. Overall, the survey results
reveal that most of the respondents are satisfied with the skyway system, leading the paper
to conclude that the Shin-Yi system has achieved its goal on creating a pedestrian-friendly
environment.

Advantages of Using Skyways

100 Do not have to wait traffic lights.

Avoid the conflict between
pedestrians and vehicles. Will not be affected by the
Fr 80 elements.
Convenient to go to several
eq major buildings. Can enjoy the urban
ue 60 streetscapes. Provide confortable
nc pedestrian space other
y(
pe 40
rso
20

0
Figure 2 Advantages of using skyway Figure 3 Pedestrian activity system

(B) Stimulating Commercial Development

The spatial distribution of the Shin-Yi planning district shows that the A9, A11 building of
SKM, Warner Village, and NY NY Dept. Store are the major activity cores of the entire area
(see Figure 3). The survey result also reveals that the three skyways, coded from 3 to 5,
have been frequently used (see Figure
Skyways : the Rate of Use
4). As a result, this paper argues that No. 1(TWTCⅠ-Taipei101)
90
the pedestrian movement in this area is No. 2(Grand Hyatt Taipei-
80
Taipei101)
formed and fostered by the allocation 70
No. 3(Taipei101-New York
60New York Shopping Center)

of the primary commercial and

Fr
eq
50No. 4(New York New York
ue Shopping Center-Vie Show
nc
40Cinemas Taipei Hsin Yi)
y

entertainment facilities. The presence (pe

rso
No. 5(Vie Show Cinemas Taipei
30Hsin Yi-Shin Kong Mitsukoshi
A9)

of the skyway system, on the other 20No. 6(Shin Kong Mitsukoshi

A9-Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A8)
10

hand, attracts people to the area, 0

No. 7(Shin Kong Mitsukoshi
A8-Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A4)

facilitates the pedestrian circulation, Figure 4 Rate of usage

and therefore stimulates the
commercial development.
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, the skyway systems are used as a redevelopment tool to
revitalize their deteriorating downtown. The Shin-Yi planning district, however, is currently
in a phase where the retailing has been highly developed. It is therefore less likely for the
paper to declare that boosting the local economy is one of the achievements of the Shin-Yi
system. It is, however, undeniable that the Shin-Yi system has benefited the commercial
development of the district.

4.2 Issues of the Shin-Yi System

(A) Lack of Clear Directional Signage
Due to the lack of clear directional signage, the skyway users are unable to locate themselves
and are likely to get lost in the system. Among the respondents, 67% of them have been aware
of this issue and 61% of them feel the necessity of improving the circumstances (see Figure 5
and Figure 6).
Drawbacks of the System
120 Needs for Improvement

Difficult to find the entrance/exit Color of the bridge Planting

Fr Lack of100
directional signage Detour 100
Seats
Incpmplete protection from the
eq wind and rain
90
ue Inaccessible 80
80 during the closing Fr Facilities
70 for fire control Closed circuit tevevision
nc time of private buildings Need to climb stairs
eq Facilities for directional signage
60
y( Canopy
ue 50
per 60 nc
other 40
so y( 30
other
pe 20
40 rso 10
0
20

Figure 5 Draws of the system

0
Figure 6 Needs fir improvement

(B) Protection from the Elements

The Shin-Yi skyways with covering can keep people from being exposed to the sun and rain.
However, this kind of open-sided skyway is unable to provide a full protection, thus letting
pedestrian face the fierce wind and rain alone. Moreover, this paper observes that parts of
the system were not well designed with drainage facilities and the accumulated water on the
surface of skyways might therefore affect the safety and comfort of the pedestrian space.

(C) Connection with Public Transit

More than a quarter of the respondents visit the area by MRT system (see Figure 7). It is,
however, observed that the Shin-Yi system is not linked to the City Hall station located on
the north end of the district (see Figure 1). Interestingly, 49% of total respondents also
claimed the need for a better linkage between the skyway system and the MRT stations (see
Figure 8). Moreover, about 23% of total respondents take bus to the area; however, there are
only few bus stops situated at the peripheries of the skyway system (see Figure 3). The
evidence reveals that the current skyway planning does not give careful consideration to the
integration with the public transit system.
(D) Dispute on Facilities for Disabled
Given the consideration regarding the expense and the rate of use, the public sector does not
have any plan of increasing facilities for the disabled at present. To circulate through the
skyway system, the disabled or the elderly need to utilize the elevators located in the
shopping malls. The survey shows that many of the respondents think there is no need to
install additional elevators (see Figure 9 and Figure 10). It is, however, debatable that
whether the facilities for the disabled can be ignored in a pedestrian-friendly environment or
not. Hence, this issue requires further evaluation and discussions.

Transport Modes Locations for Additional Skyways

80
Taipei City Hall
0% 8% 1% Walking
70
Cycling
Taipei International
28% 16% Motorcycles Convention Center Administration Center of
Fre 60
Shin-Yi District TWTC Ⅱ,Ⅲ
Automobiles qu
en
Bus cy( 50
MRT Stations Parking Lots other
per No Skyways needed
Mass Rapid son
Transit ) 40

24% other
30

20

Figure 7 Probability of mode choice Figure 8 10Location for additional skyway

0
Demand for Street Furniture Facilities for the Disabled
70 70

60 Benches 60
Facilities for the blind
Fr 50 Fr Exclusive elevators
Trash Cans
eq eq 50
ue 40 Advertisement Boards ue
nc nc Vertical lift
Planting equipments other
y( 40
y(p 30 pe
ers other rs
on) 20 30 No facilities needed
No need to place street furniture,which
may hinder circulation.
10 20

0 10
Figure 9 Demand for street furniture Figure 10 Facilities of the disabled
0

(E) Dullness of the System

From the questionnaire survey, about 71% of total respondents are content with the exterior
design of the skyways because it effectively minimizes the visual impact caused by the
skyways (see Table 2). Nevertheless, approximately a half of the respondents expect the
improvement of planting in the skyway system (see Figure 6). It therefore takes efforts for
the planning department to assess related strategies on planting and adding interest to the
skyway system.
 Table 2. Respondence on the use of skyways
Highly Agree Disagree and
Category Neutral
and Agree Highly Disagree

Skyways are wide enough for pedestrians to

smoothly pass through. 75 16 9

The pavior of skyways is suitable for walking. 58 38 4

The nighttime lighting of skyways is sufficient. 70 27 3

The exterior design of skyways is pretty. 71 21 8

Skyways block the views of the pedestrians at

8 38 54
street-level.
The skyway design is correspondent with the
74 22 4
area’s image.
On the skyways, one can enjoy the different
73 24 3
views of urban landscapes.
Skyways become the landmark and represent
61 34 5
the entrance to the area.

Skyways facilitate your activities in the district. 86 10 4

You are stratified with the Shin-Yi skyway

83 15 2
system as a whole.

4.3 Development Strategies for Skyway Development

One the one hand, issues exploded above is the negative outcomes should be corrected. On
the other hand, suggestions and active responses through questionnaire also form a very
good foundation for further improvement. By combining issues and suggestions, this paper
offers the following strategies for the future planning of the Shin-Yi system and the
development of skyway systems in other Taiwanese cities (see Table 3).

(A) Establishing the Construction Model

From the experiences of foreign cities, there are two models to build a skyway system:
‘Ordinance’ and ‘Administrative Plan’. The former requires a thorough system of
regulations decreeing basic principals, while the later depends on a comprehensive plan
providing a set of guidelines. Based on the local attributes, cities that want to build a
skyway system can choose any of the models at their discretion. The Shin-Yi system is
constructed under the administration plan; however, in spite of the reserved locations
specified in the urban planning, there is no relevant guideline in the skyway plan. To avoid
the additional costs resulted from the negotiation process between the government and
private developers, it is essential to establish the construction model before building the
skyway system.

(B) Connecting Public Transit to Skyways

A well-designed connection between public transit and the skyway system can effectively
reduce the use of private vehicles and create a humanity-oriented urban environment. The
Shin-Yi system, although designed with the similar intention, fails to provide an
uninterrupted pedestrian space. Therefore, the future development plan should make the
objective—linking public transit and the skyway system—a top priority.

Table 3. Skyway development: issues and strategies

Aspect Issues Strategies

Pedestrian 1) Entrances are located in the private 1) Evaluating the feasibility of operating the
Environment buildings; the operating hours are skyway system 24/7 or regulating the unified
inconsistent. operating hours.
2) The system lacks the directional signage, 2) Establishing a clear directional system.
making pedestrians get lost in the system.
3) The open-sided skyways can not provide 3) Designing the skyways by considering
a full protection from the elements. the attributes of local climate.

Traffic 1) The connection between the skyway

system and public transit is insufficient. 1) Integrating these two transportation
systems; strengthening the relation.

Economy 1) Skyways negatively affect the street- 1) Emphasizing the improvement in

level retail businesses. pedestrian environment at the street level;
providing a ground-level public space that is
different from the skyways.

Urban Image
1) The skyway system is not 1) Giving careful considerations to the
harmoniously coordinated with the surrounding buildings and the image of the
surroundings. area.
2) Building the skyway system while
2) Skyways take away the pedestrians promoting street-level commercial
on the street, thus adversely influence the development and improving the street
Landscape vitality of the street.
1) Paying attention to the urban context while
1) Skyways affect the views of those on designing the skyway network.
the street.

2) Skyways may destroy the

characteristics of urban streets.

(C) Creating a Pedestrian-Friendly Environment

One major advantage of building a skyway system is that it can provide a comfortable,
climate-controlled pedestrian space. The only drawback of the Shin-Yi system, in terms of
providing a friendly environment, observed in the survey is the lack of clear directional
signage. The planning department should therefore make sure that the system has already
achieved its goal of creating a pedestrian-friendly environment and then adjust its skyway
design to enrich the diversity of the urban space.

(D) Avoiding the Negative Economic Impacts

The literature shows that the skyway systems in different cities have resulted in adverse
influences on the street-level retail businesses. The Shin-Yi system, however, does not have
the magnet effect because the district has mixed land uses and the commercial activities are
thriving. On the other hand, many cities in Taiwan are encountering the difficulties that
their downtown has been deteriorating. As a result, this paper argues that those Taiwanese
cities planning to build skyway systems should cautiously evaluate their ability to avoid the
negative impacts on retailing before initiating the skyway plan.
(E) Enhancing the Image of the Area
The visual impact caused by the skyways has drawn some criticisms. The design of the
Shin-Yi system therefore aims to reduce the visual oppression resulted from the volume of
the skyways. To create a vibrant and glamorous urban environment, the expected image of
the area, the location of the skyways, and the possible visual impacts are the key elements in
skyway development strategies.

(F) Setting up a Management and Maintenance System

To build a sustainable skyway system and effectively manage the system, establishing a
management and maintenance system is critical for the skyway planning.

5. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

The development of a skyway system is worthy, for both the public and private sectors, to
deliberate, evaluate, and implement, because skyways can create a multi-layered pedestrian
space, provide a humanity-oriented urban environment, and result in concentrated economic
effects. By reviewing the related literature and conducting the questionnaire survey, this
paper attempts to make viable recommendations for the future skyway planning in Taiwan.
Following are the conclusions and suggestions of the research.

A well-designed skyway system is beneficial for pedestrian environment, transportation,

and commercial activities. The skyway systems, on the other hand, may result in serious
issues such as negative impacts on the local economy and landscape. Overall, the
application of skyway systems in a city setting requires more discussions and assessments.
Following is an account of the concerns confronting the Shin-Yi system.
1) Insufficient regulations and guidelines regarding urban planning.
2) The defective connection between the skyway system and public transit.
3) A careful evaluation on installing facilities for the disabled.
4) Incomplete directional signage.
5) The dullness of the pedestrian environment on skyways.

A good skyway planning should have the attributes of convenience and continuity in traffic
and economic effect. Furthermore, the pedestrian environment provided by the skyway
system should be considerate of safety and comfort. Finally, the skyway planning must
enhance the self-evidence and glamour of the urban environment. This paper concludes the
following development strategies for the skyway planning in the future.
1) Establish the construction model of planning skyway systems.
2) Create an actual pedestrian-friendly environment.
3) Connect the skyway system and public transit system.
4) Enhance the image of the area and enrich landscape.
5) Avoid the negative economic impacts.
6) Set up a management and maintenance system.

For the subsequent research on skyway systems, this paper suggests that in addition to the
guidelines of skyway planning, it is feasible to apply the theories of urban design,
sustainable transport, and transit-oriented development into the construction of skyway
systems. In conclusion, planners who attempt to build skyway systems in other Taiwanese
cities should pay attention to the issues presented in the paper and utilize the development
strategies to creatively make their skyway system plans.

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