Taiwan s Bike Friendly Cities Text & Photos: Editorial Dept.

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1 Taiwan s Bike Friendly Cities Text & Photos: Editorial Dept. For visitors and locals alike, Taiwan traffic is hectic. Scooters, motorcycles, and cars are everywhere, and getting around on the roads can be stressful. Bicycle transportation is a sure-fire way to slow down the pace of life, reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and become healthier in the process. After decades of riding and testing bicycles, supporting bike riding culture, and promoting correct riding, Wheel Giant is convinced that bicycles can change a city and lead to a happier life. But just how bike friendly are Taiwan s cities? We conducted a sixmonth-long survey of the island s five biggest cities to find out. Our Bicycle-Friendly Big Cities survey included Taipei, New Taipei City, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Ten criteria were measured in the online survey, including availability of bicycle parking spaces, whether or not the city has a bike rental program, safety and availability of bike lanes, implementation of bike-related laws and regulations, prevalence of independent bike shops, bicycle advocacy activities, bicycle safety and security, availability of bicycle information, and urban air quality. Respondents were asked to rate each indicator, from a low score of to a top score of. 0 Autumn BMU 7

2 TaipeiCity Taiwan s capital city of Taipei is a renowned international metropolis, and the country s primary political, cultural, commercial, entertainment, and communications center. Because of its size and global prominence, Taipei is the world s main window into Taiwan. 8 BMU 0 Autumn

3 Green Transport and You- Bikes To promote the use of green public transportation, the Taipei City Government organizes an annual International Car Free Day, which has now entered its th year. Additionally, the city government also organizes various public bike rides and activities to encourage residents to be environmentally friendly, and encourages use of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) system. Relevant governmental departments also actively implement bicycle safety education programs. Many people think that busy, fast-paced Taipei is not suitable for cycling, but the city s YouBike rental program is proving the doubters wrong. The yellow and orange YouBikes, emblazoned with a smiley face on the frame and rear wheel guard, have become a common sight on Taipei streets. Following in the footsteps of European and North American cities with public bicycle rental programs, the Taipei City Government teamed up with Giant Bicycles in 009 to provide a convenient, short-range, point A to point B style of bike transportation. The city embarked on a substantial expansion of the program in September 0, and added even more new stations this year. The system currently consists of 6 bike rental stations with, bikes, and is expected to increase to 6 sites and,80 vehicles by the first half of 0. Paths and Safety Safe riding paths are a primary concern for many cyclists. The Taipei area has about 7 kilometers of bike paths, one of the highest densities in Taiwan. There are dedicated bike paths in such popular scenic areas as Riverside Park, and along the Xindian, Han, and Tamsui Rivers. Rental bike stations throughout Riverside Park provide point-topoint convenience. However, the increasing number of bicycles, people, and vehicles within these park areas will be a major test of how the city deals with cycling as a priority in the future. In addition to usable bike paths, factors such as available parking, bike theft, and traffic accidents are also important when assessing the bike-friendliness of any project. Taipei boasts around,000 bike rack slots at various areas around the city, including,000 at MRT stations, over,700 at other public transportation stops, and many more at parks and other public areas. Taipei authorities have made recovering stolen bikes a priority, and CCTV security cameras are installed at all bike parking areas. According to bicycle accident statistics, Taipei still has room for improvement, but public education programs are helping reduce traffic accidents involving bicycles. 0 Autumn BMU 9

4 NewTaipeiCity New Taipei City covers a vast area, and includes a population of more than four million people. The area boasts 70km of bike lanes, including such popular bike paths as the Left Bank bike lanes, Longmen bike paths, and Xindian River bike lanes. The old Fulong railway tunnel has been turned into a popular bike route, drawing weekend crowds to the beautiful ocean-front location. 0 BMU 0 Autumn

5 Bike Programs and Events The city government promotes the use of public transportation systems so that residents can more easily commute to school or work. Since October 008, the city has offered a free public bicycle rental system, including a total of 80 bikes at different rental stations. Now in its fourth year, the program has a membership of over,00 people, a daily turnover rate of almost three rides per vehicle, and more than 0,000 overall rides annually. Although the service is free, daily use is limited as most of the rental stations are concentrated in Banqiao, leaving much room for future growth. In order to further expansion of cycling, the New Taipei City Department of Transportation has announced that it will integrate with Taipei s YouBike system by the end of 0. The New Taipei City Government has organized a number of cycling events in recent years. The Bike Rite of Passage allows young riders to challenge themselves and broaden their horizons, and gives older riders the opportunity to hone their skills and traffic smarts. The city government organized the National High School Bike Challenge in 0, and in the same year also held the Car-Free Walk & Ride event inviting people to jog, walk, or cycle the No. 6 Expressway. To make biking more diversified and appealing, the government also held a Blue Line Green Ride bike tour with a cruise on the Tamsui River in 0. 0 Autumn BMU

6 TaichungCity BMU 0 Autumn

7 Years ago, the Taichung County Government turned many old railway tracks into destination-type bike trails, including the popular Dongfeng Bike Trail, and the city government built commuter-type bike lanes linking the central area with outlying areas like Taiyuan Station and Chung Hsing University. Following the merger of the county and city into a single municipality, Taichung continued to actively develop bicycle tourism, and many of the existing bike paths are well-lighted at night. Recently, however, poor maintenance has led to a sharp drop in bike path usage. And as Taichung has one of the best public bus systems on the island offering free travel to cardholders for rides of 8km or less there are not as many bicycle commuters as one would expect in a city of over a million people. However, the city government is currently building and promoting a bus rapid transit system, which includes plans to set up public bike rental stations next to popular bus stops. The city expects to build 00 bike rental stations and put up to,000 bicycles on the road within the next three years. Biking Further Afield In addition to kilometer upon kilometer of bike path, Taichung also features a unique cycling venue the Iron Hill Cycling Sport Village which opened in the Waipu district of Taichung in June 0. Located on a,000 square meter site donated by Waipu-based pedal maker VP Components, the cycling village is Asia s first worldclass, UCI-standard bicycle facility. There is also a very popular downhill riding area on Dadu Mountain which features some very technical sections. As the greater Taichung area is the bicycle production center of Taiwan, companies and government entities often organize bicycle marketing and social activities. In 0, the Sports Department of the Ministry of Education organized 00k, 00k, and,000k training rides for young adults. The Taichung City Government followed in the central government s footsteps in 0, and organized a ride for parents as well. 0 Autumn BMU

8 TainanCity BMU 0 Autumn

9 Tainan is one of Taiwan s most charming cities, with many popular local snacks, as well as historic temples, buildings, and museums. The slower pace of this city makes it perfect for biking. The city currently has three interlinked bike paths in the downtown area, and many more further afield, with a total length of about 9 kilometers. Tainan s public bike system is still in the trial phase. Currently, there are three stops in the Anping area, and the government plans to add 8 more stations with 0 bikes each. Integration Challenges However, there is currently a lack of sufficient parking, and the bicycle paths are not well connected to Tainan s public transit system. Also, considering the recent increase in night riding, the Tainan City Government should make it a priority to provide better lighting along bike routes. Security has increased over the years, though: 0 bikes were reported stolen in 0, but only 7 thefts were reported last year. At the end of 00, a number of Taiwanese cities including Tainan merged with their surrounding counties, and integrating city and county statistics and business information has been very time-consuming. Because of this, the official Tainan City website is still lacking comprehensive cycling information, although the city government has been actively promoting bicyclerelated activities. The 0 Tainan Bicycle Carnival welcomed riders from all around Taiwan, and the government s Sports Office plans to organize 00km rides to encourage younger riders to challenge themselves. 0 Autumn BMU

10 KaohsiungCity 6 BMU 0 Autumn

11 The Kaohsiung City Government has been committed in recent years to making Kaohsiung the best cycling city in Taiwan. No effort has been spared, and by 00 CNN had named Kaohsiung one of the top five bicycle-friendly cities in Asia. Many riders have praised those efforts, which include such thoughtful amenities as a loop around the popular Lotus Pond park, and Taiwan s first dedicated cycling bridge. Kaohsiung bike lanes allow riders to experience the many different facets of the city, from the bustle of the harbor to rustic coastlines to special local scenery. The city boasts bike trails with a total length of 08 kilometers, and is working on plans to expand to over 700km by 0. Bike lanes on city streets are fully marked, and bike paths at intersections are very visible. The Kaohsiung government conducts weekly lane inspections, and carries out necessary maintenance to ensure quality. Both urban and suburban routes are equipped with sufficient lighting at night, increasing the safety of night riding. C-Bikes Make Life Easier Kaohsiung has a total population of around.7 million, and the city government instituted a public bicycle rental system in 009 to help reduce traffic congestion and pollution. Dubbed C-Bike, the program currently has 88 rental points housing around,00 vehicles, with a planned expansion to 0 docking stations and hundreds of 0 Autumn BMU 7

12 extra bicycles. The system features point A to point B rental, and convenient -hour leasing services. The C-Bike program, in conjunction with Kaohsiung s MRT system, makes it easy for many workers to commute to work without needing to rely on cars or scooters. However, due to the increasing number of cyclists on the roads, the government needs to focus on driver awareness and cyclist safety programs. Although it needs to make rider safety a priority, the city government has made a concerted effort to tout the benefits of cycling. In 0, the Kaohsiung City Department of Transportation hosted its 0th annual International Car Free Day, where it invited residents to experience a day without motorized transportation. The same year, the Kaohsiung City Sports Office also held a National Bicycle Day to promote leisure activities and enhance quality of life. Bike Friendly Taiwan The public bike rental systems in place in both Taipei City and Kaohsiung City are both very popular, and will lead other cities in Taiwan to follow suit. However, a public bicycle rental program is only one facet of a bicycle friendly city. The other nine indicators are also necessary for riding to really take hold in Taiwan s cities. For example, Tainan has made great strides in bicycle security, which should be commended. Hopefully, all the cities listed in our survey will be able to learn from each other, and eventually turn Taiwan into a beautiful and safe bicycle island. Taiwan has the strength of a world-class bicycle industry, and the island is a global research and development center. Leisure riding and bike culture are becoming much more popular getting popular, thanks in part to decent bike paths, public bicycle systems, and an increasingly bikefriendly environment. However, national and local governments must work together if scooterhappy Taiwan is to become as truly bike friendly as it has the potential to be. 8 BMU 0 Autumn

13 Five Bike-Friendly Cities Evaluation Chart City project Availability of bike parking spaces Availability of public bike rental system Availability of bike lanes Implementation of bike-related laws and regulations Prevalence of independent bike shops Bike advocacy activities Bike safety and security Availability of bike information Air quality (PSI) Average of each testing station Online survey Total Taipei New Taipei City Taichung Tainan Kaohsiung Bike rack slots / Population,976 /,677, ,8 /,778, Bike rental stations / Land area Bike rental stations / Population (unit:0,000) Number of bikes / Population Number of bikes / Land area (square kilometers) 6/ / Planned / / /68 0. / Planned / / /,677, / Planned 0/,88, / / / Planned 0/ / Length(km) / Land area(square kilometers) Length(km) / Population (unit: 0,000) 7 / /68= / /9= / /69=. 9 / /88=.7 08 / /78=.8 Numbers / Partial data Rite of passage through cycling (0&0) Car Free Day (0&0) Safety Education Other activities 6 0 trafﬁc accidents (A+A) Reduced number of trafﬁc accidents (A) (0&0) 0 Number of bike thefts 0 Number of 0 recovered bikes 0 Reduction in bike theft Increase in recovered bikes Number registered bikes =- -=- -= 6-= 7-= PSI Annual average suspended particulate Votes Note : Statistics calculated from 0 to March 0. For the sake of data integrity and fairness, par tial data were judged according to the 0 statistics, such as youth bike activities, Car Free Day, bike security, and air quality 0 Autumn BMU 9