Spatial distribution of urban gardens on vacant land and rooftops: A case study of 'The Garden City Initiative' in Taipei City, Taiwan

The use of vacant land and rooftop spaces for UGs are gradually becoming widespread with the increasing awareness of the effects and benefits of urban gardens (UGs) by citizens. Four types of UGs exist under the policy of “The Garden City Initiative” (GCI) by using vacant land and rooftops. The policies concerning the operation of these UGs under the GCI policy are first clarified. The study’s hypothesis is as follows: in this continuously developing city, the surface area of UGs on vacant land and rooftops decreases as the UGs’ accessibility to public transportation is better/more convenient. Using the data of all 742 UGs in Taipei, this study clarifies the spatial distribution of UGs in the city’s 12 districts determined using a GIS, and the correlations between the UGs’ surface areas and their proximity to public transportation (including MRT stations and city bus stops) by each UG type and each district were calculated.