The Taipei City Government announced yesterday the formation of a squad of bicycle-mounted troopers that will patrol the city's 106km of riverside cycling tracks starting on Saturday.
The 60-member squad will police the more than 500 hectares of riverside parks in the city and clamp down on anyone endangering the public or harming the environment.
"The troopers will cooperate with the police to ensure the safety of cyclists and residents who visit the riverside parks," Chen Yu-hsieng (陳毓賢), director of Taipei City's Water Conservancy Agency, said yesterday.
Due to a lack of staff, Chen said that there would be no nighttime patrols. But he said the city would seek to increase the number of bicycle troopers.
To mark the establishment of the squad, the city government invited the public to join Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (
Taipei City built its first dedicated cycling lane on Dunhua N Road in the 1990s. Today, the city's cycling tracks ring the giant "U" shape formed by the Keelung (
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
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