Taichung is offering far fewer subsidies for motorcycle driver training than the number of young people who want them, leaving most students to pay full price.

• Taichung adds NT$1,500 on top of the central government's NT$1,300 subsidy, but only 3,500 slots are available.
• More than 200,000 18-year-olds and college students in the city are eligible, and out-of-town students can apply too, crowding out local residents.
• Green camp councilors want the cap lifted for Taichung residents, funded by traffic fine money.
• The city collected NT$2.93 billion in traffic fines last year, NT$583 million more than budgeted, while road deaths came in above its own safety target.
• Training works: trained riders break traffic rules 44% less often and crash 16% less often.

Outlook: The transport bureau says it supports expanding the program if the budget allows, so pressure will build during the next budget round.