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Taipei police start fining cyclists who break traffic laws

The Taipei City Government will begin fining cyclists who violate traffic regulations starting today, with cyclists who run red lights, ride in car-only lanes or in the wrong direction facing fines from NT$300 to NT$600.

The Traffic Police Division will clamp down on violators of traffic rules along 50 major roads, including Zhongxiao E Road, Zhongshan N Road, Roosevelt Road and all exits around riverside parks, the Department of Transportation said.

As cyclists are not required to hold a driver's license, the police will ask riders who violate rules to present their IDs, and riders who fail to present identification or refuse to show their ID will be taken to a police station to confirm their identity, division director Chen Ming-cheng (陳銘政) said.

The new measure is the city government's latest bid to reduce the number of bicycle-related traffic accidents. The Transportation Department began promoting the measure in April.

Department statistics show that 679 cyclists ran red lights last month, 519 rode in the wrong direction and 290 rode in lanes reserved for cars.

Like all vehicle drivers, cyclists must obey the Act Governing the Punishment of Violation of Road Traffic Regulations (道路交通管理處罰條例). They will be fined if they break the rules, said Chang Chin-an (張金安), deputy traffic division chief of the department.

Chen said the number of accidents involving bicycles has been climbing every year.
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