I rode the subway in Taiwan and saw why it's one of the best mass transit systems in the world

I lived in New York City for seven years, which means I know how terrible commuting on an inconsistent, overcrowded subway line can be. It's also how I know that the metro in Taipei, Taiwan is one of the best metros in the world.

The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit is relatively new to the country, first opening in the late '90s . Its late start likely allowed it to avoid many the pitfalls of bad subway systems.

Taipei's metro is clean, organized, on-time, and safe. I never waited more than five minutes for a train.

Here's everything Taipei's metro is doing right that the rest of the world needs to take notes on.

Theres no eating or drinking on the platforms or the trains.

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This is likely a huge reason why it stays so clean.

The train has individual handles to hold onto.

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And they're at a height someone who is 5'2" like me, can actually reach.

Navigation is a snap, even if you dont speak the language.

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Google Maps told me which train lines to take, and once you're in the station navigation is super easy.

There are placards on the floor to tell you which trains are where.

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And all the station stops are spelled out in English as well as Mandarin.

The colors on the signs outside stations tell you which train lines it connects to.

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For example, this one is the green line and it connects to the yellow line. No need to memorize the metro map.

The platforms are safer because no one can fall into the tracks.

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Large doors and gates keep accidents from happening.

It also has a nearly perfect punctuality rate.

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A ccording to Channel News Asia , the metro has fewer than 30 delays exceeding five minutes a year, giving it a nearly 100% punctuality rate in 2017.

For context, during that same year, 3/4 of New York Subway lines were late more than 50% of the time, according to The New York Post.

That leaves customer satisfaction at a reported 95%.

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Its very clean and you dont have to wait very long for a train to arrive, one passenger told Channel NewsAsia.

The metro cards are durable, easy to use, and easy to refill.

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In Taipei you can buy plastic credit card-like metro cards at 7/11. They come with a ton of fun designs and characters and you can load them with money right at the convenience store.

Then to use, you simply tap your card at the turnstile.

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No repeated swiping because you couldn't get the speed quite right.

To refill, just place your card on a kiosk sensor and add coins or bills.

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It's super simple. You can also use the cards to take buses or rent bikes.

Its very inexpensive.

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Most of the stops are in the 20-30 NT range, making them around 60 cents to a dollar per ride. That's significantly cheaper than the New York metro's $2.75 price.

The metro charges by distance, but even the furthest stop is only 50 NT (New Taiwan dollars).

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That's about $1.60 USD.

The bathrooms are clean and useable.

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Someone was even cleaning the bathroom I was in when I used it, proving that it's actually a priority for the metro system to keep its facilities in good condition. Who knew the Taipei metro could turn me into the kind of person who goes to the bathroom in a subway?

Overall, I cannot recommend it enough.

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Living in New York, I never thought that taking public transportation like a subway could be so pain-free and honestly kind of fun? Taipei's transit system is in a class of its own, and it should serve as an inspiration to other cities. We all deserve the metro experience of our dreams not our nightmares.

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I rode the subway in Taiwan and saw why it's one of the best mass transit systems in the world

Theres no eating or drinking on the platforms or the trains.

The train has individual handles to hold onto.

Navigation is a snap, even if you dont speak the language.

There are placards on the floor to tell you which trains are where.

The colors on the signs outside stations tell you which train lines it connects to.

The platforms are safer because no one can fall into the tracks.

It also has a nearly perfect punctuality rate.

That leaves customer satisfaction at a reported 95%.

The metro cards are durable, easy to use, and easy to refill.

Then to use, you simply tap your card at the turnstile.

To refill, just place your card on a kiosk sensor and add coins or bills.

Its very inexpensive.

The metro charges by distance, but even the furthest stop is only 50 NT (New Taiwan dollars).

The bathrooms are clean and useable.

Overall, I cannot recommend it enough.

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