The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday inaugurated Cycling Route No. 1 (自行車環島1號線), which gives people simple directions for biking around Taiwan.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Jian-yu (陳建宇) said the main bicycle route is about 968km long and cyclists would be guided by signs and road markings along the way, adding that there are 122 designated rest stops where cyclists can acquire things they might need.
Chen said cyclists could complete a round trip in nine days following the set route. The journey can be broken up by using trains, with 11 transit railway stations along the route, such as Songshan Railway Station.
The Taiwan Railways Administration allows bicycles on board commuter trains, which have spaces dedicated for bicycles, as long as cyclists file an application at least 20 minutes prior to the train’s departure.
According to the Institute of Transportation, the main cycling route follows the nation’s highways. It begins at Songshan Railway Station and runs to the highways. To avoid sections of highway that are dangerous or have heavy traffic, cyclists are guided to special cycling lanes.
The institute said the rest stops have been set up every 10km to 20km and include township offices, convenience stores and simple bike stops.
Apart from the main route, the institute said there are 12 branch routes over that span an additional 235km, adding that five new branch routes would be added to the cycling route network.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
RSS