As cycling across the nation continues to grow in popularity, adventurers have found a good place to take a rest wherever they end up — convenience stores.
For its population of more than 23 million, Taiwan already has more than 10,000 convenience stores — one store for every 2,300 people, the highest density in the world.
The high density of chain stores — like market leaders 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and Circle K — has proven popular not just with convenience-minded consumers, but also with long-distance cyclists looking to stock up on food and water and even fix their bikes.
According to 7-Eleven, 500 of its 5,000 stores have special “bicycle depots” where cyclists can find tire pumps and a variety of specialized food items.
In summer, a peak season for cyclists to tour the nation, some of the most popular products offered by local convenience stores are sports drinks, bananas and energy drinks.
The Tourism Bureau has also worked with convenience stores to open tourism information centers.
Seven FamilyMarts that have joined the program have provided travelers with maps and free Wi-Fi services, the company said, while some offer cellphone recharging and tire pumps.
Jake Hemingway, an American who has lived in Taiwan for eight years, said he loves that he can rely on convenience stores wherever his wheels take him.
Hemingway said that during a recent cycling trip, his first choice when hungry was always to head to one of the ubiquitous one-stop shops, noting that many stores now offer bicycle pumps for added convenience.
He set off on a skateboard-bicycle-and-foot tour in December last year accompanied by two of his brothers and a Taiwanese friend. They have twice rounded the nation together, documenting the sights and sounds as they go, and are on a third round.
Hemingway said he feels no other place in the world is friendlier to cyclists than Taiwan thanks to the omnipresent convenience stores.
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