Taoyuan Citizen Card App Adoption Trails Rivals, Councilors Criticize

Taoyuan City's ambitious digital initiative, the Citizen Card APP 2.0, is facing significant criticism from local representatives due to its underwhelming adoption rate. Despite having issued over 2.07 million resident cards, a mere 340,000 individuals have downloaded the associated mobile application. This stark contrast is further highlighted when compared to the success of similar platforms in other major Taiwanese cities, such as Taipei's "Taipei Pass" with 3 million downloads and Taichung's "Taichung Pass" boasting 1.5 million users.

City councilors have voiced strong dissatisfaction, labeling the app as "difficult to use" and citing its incomplete features and lack of integration with other departmental activities as key reasons for public reluctance. Councilor Xie Meiying sarcastically referred to the citizen card as a "card that hinders citizens," accusing the Smart City Development Committee (SCD) of "digital incompetence." She pointed out that despite repeated feedback, digital disarray persists, and the app's performance lags even behind the Environmental Protection Bureau's "Taoyuan Garbage Truck APP."

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The Citizen Card APP 2.0 download numbers are dismal, far behind Taipei Pass and Taichung Pass in other six major cities, and its performance evaluation even loses to the Environmental Protection Bureau's "Taoyuan Garbage Truck APP."

Councilors Huang Chongzhen, Wang Peiyu, Zhang Xiaoyun, Huang Jingping, Yang Chaowei, and Shu Cuiling echoed these concerns, questioning the SCD's substantial annual budget and staffing levels in light of its perceived lack of tangible results. They urged for expanded functionalities, including parking and utility bill payments, and called for better inter-departmental coordination to streamline information and services. In response, SCD Chairman Liao Xiuwu acknowledged the criticisms and stated that the committee is actively reviewing and addressing issues related to inter-departmental integration to enhance the app's usability and encourage greater public engagement.

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The SCD's integration of services is sluggish and very difficult to use.