Electric bicycles will not be allowed on sidewalks and bike lanes in Taipei beginning on Oct. 1 because of their relatively high speeds compared with conventional bikes, the Taipei Department of Transportation said yesterday.
Electric bicycle riders will have to use slow traffic lanes or stay on the right side of roads, the department said, but they will be allowed to use riverside bikeways.
Violators are to be fined between NT$300 and NT$600, traffic officials said.
Electric bike riders can travel at a maximum speed of 25kph, posing a danger to pedestrians and regular bikers who currently share the same spaces with them, the department said.
Taipei is the first municipality in the country to adopt the ban following an increase in traffic accidents caused by electric bicycles.
According to the National Police Agency, the number of people electric bicycle riders killed in traffic accidents were two, four and six in 2012, 2013 and last year respectively, while the number of people injured totaled 744, 1,122 and 1,455 over those three years.
There is no age limit on electric bicycle riders in Taiwan.
They do not need a driver’s license and can ride without a helmet.
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