In a bid to generate interest for the Velo-city Global Conference next year — an event to promote the use of bicycles in Taipei — Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday embarked on a 73km bicycle trip from Taipei to Hsinchu.
The journey began at the Taipei City Government and ended on Hsinchu’s Zhongzheng Road.
“Bicycle manufacturing is an important industry in the nation and Taiwan is a great place for people to take bicycle tours,” Ko said before his trip.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Taiwan is ideal for long-distance bicycle trips, because cyclists can experience different climates along the way, especially during winter when the temperature difference between northern and southern Taiwan is large, Ko said.
The weather makes the nation especially appealing for foreign cyclists, he said, adding that on a round-island bicycle tour he had taken part in, one-third of cyclists he saw were foreigners.
Ko said he planned to promote next year’s Velo-City Global and 2017's Summer Universiade with his trip to Hsinchu, adding he hopes to consolidate Taipei’s image as an international city with the events.
Asked how he planned to prevent aches, which he said had nagged him during previous rides, Ko said: “Just don’t lock into one position.”
Before setting off on the ride that usually takes about six hours, Ko said: “No problem. Hsinchu is very close to Taipei. I can get there in five hours.”
However, Ko finished the journey in six hours, because the cycling team allegedly “got lost” along the way, one of Ko’s aides said.
Ko said that the city government has established a crisis management team for the Summer Universiade, whose events are to be held at 61 venues across Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan, to deal with any possible terrorist threats.
Taipei City Government spokesman Sidney Lin (林鶴明) said one of the main responsibilities of the team, headed by the Taipei Police Department chief, is to respond to terrorist attacks.
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