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NGOs say Taiwan's cities not convenient for cycling

Two cyclists ride by a bicycle parking area at National Taiwan University in Taipei on Friday. PHOTO: CNA

With gasoline prices on the rise, more people are looking to modes of transport not powered by fuel, such as bicycles.

But nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) said the nation’s environment for cyclists is not friendly enough.

“In Taiwan, most bike paths are constructed for leisure,” said Lee Ken-cheng (李根政) of Mercy on the Earth, an environmental alliance, stressing that cyclists should have the right to the road when they commute between their home and workplace.

In addition, many MRT stations in Taipei and in Kaohsiung are overhead or underground, which is not convenient for passengers with bikes, especially those with bikes that cannot fold up.

“Bike paths in Taipei are not well designed and are even dangerous for cyclists, “ said Lee Han-lin, one of the heads of a student environmental alliance.

He said that bike paths are often small lanes on sidewalks or roads, and cyclists have to be careful to avoid pedestrians or motorcycles.

“Besides, the theft rate is too high in Taipei,” said Lee Han-lin, whose brand new bike was stolen recently, forcing him to commute by public transport.

In a workshop in April for the International Car Free Day that will be held in September, the Department of Transportation said that to transform the bicycle from a vehicle of leisure into a means of transport, it plans to construct 50km of bike paths every year in the capital, starting with a bike-pedestrian path along Dunhua North and South roads.

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