Cyclists seeking challenging routes could consider the six recommended by the Directorate-General of Highways.
The directorate said that it made the recommendations due to the rapid proliferation of bicycle routes across the nation.
Although cyclists sometimes take challenging rides along highways, the agency said that some of these roads do not have designated bike lanes or supply stops.
If cyclists fail to make adequate preparations, riding along these routes can not only be an unpleasant experience, but could also turn deadly, the agency said.
To help cyclists prepare for trips, the agency has filmed instructional videos highlighting route conditions and posted them online.
Agency chief engineer Wu Chin-hsing (吳進興) said that the videos show conditions such as narrow winding roads or fallen rocks.
The six challenging bike routes run between Fulong (福隆) and Toucheng Township (頭城) on Highway No. 2; from Taroko Gorge (太魯閣) on Highway No. 8 to Wuling (武嶺) on Highway No. 14A; between Xindian District (新店) and Wulai District (烏來) on Highway No. 9A; from Taitung to Changbin Township (長濱) on Highway No. 11; from Highway No. 14 to the section between Puli (埔里) and Wuling (武嶺) townships on Highway No. 14A; and from Chuko (觸口) to Alishan (阿里山) on Highway No. 18.
The directorate said that the information on its Web site would let cyclists learn about the terrain of each route, so that they know when to expect steep slopes and how to pace themselves.
Each route would also be labeled to indicate the level of difficulty, such as a beginner’s route, a professional route or a challenging route.
Cyclists can view the information on mobile devices, the directorate said, adding that cyclists from overseas can view the information in English if they do not read Chinese.
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