A survey from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) showed yesterday that 70 percent of the respondents said they do not wear helmets when riding a bicycle.
However, the survey also showed that about 70 percent of the respondents said the government should create laws requiring bicycle riders to wear helmets.
The ministry began conducting the survey last November to better understand the use of bicycles nationwide. It was the ministry’s first national survey on bike use.
PHOTO: CNA
The survey was completed on Monday with 9,236 respondents aged 12 and over. The results were analyzed at a confidence level of 95 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percent.
The survey found that 51 percent of the respondents have ridden bicycles within the past six months. Among them, about 27 percent said they ride bicycles every day. Based on that percentage, the ministry estimated that the nation has a biking population of about 10.3 million.
Approximately 60 percent said they ride bicycles for pleasure or recreation purposes. Only 12.5 percent reported they commute by bicycle.
Among those commuting by bike, 42 percent reported they started doing so two years ago. The ministry said this may reflect cycling’s recent popularity in Taiwan.
In other news, the ministry yesterday finalized its plan to facilitate home-bound traffic over the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday. The National Freeway Bureau decided that toll-free hours for both northbound and southbound freeway lanes will be between 12am and 7am this weekend, as well as from April 3 to April 5.
Some travelers are expected to return home a week early to avoid traffic. Both the Taiwan Railway Administration and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp have increased train services between April 2 and April 6.
Domestic airlines have also raised the number of flights departing for Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration has also prepared for increased flights and ships and even asked for the assistance of military ships and freighters in case flights are halted or delayed by thick fog.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
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