YouBike rides are to be free in Taipei for the first 30 minutes starting from Wednesday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said on Tuesday.
The change is part of the city’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and increase public transportation use to 70 percent, Chiang told a news conference.
Since the first half hour would be free, the NT$5 discount for transferring between YouBike and other forms of public transportation would be discontinued, the Taipei Department of Transportation said.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Fees would remain the same for rides beyond 30 minutes, at NT$10 per half hour for rentals within four hours, NT$20 per half hour for rentals between four and eight hours, and NT$40 per half hour for rentals longer than eight hours, it said.
Rides that begin in Taipei and end in another jurisdiction would still enjoy the first 30 minutes free, the department said.
YouBike rentals within 30 minutes currently cost NT$10, NT$5 of which is covered by the city.
A budget of NT$370 million has been set aside for the new policy, the city government said.
The window within which a rider can rent another bike from the same station to continue their rental would also be extended from five to 10 minutes, the department added.
About 90 percent of YouBike rentals are within 30 minutes, while 52 percent of rentals are made without transferring to other forms of transportation, it said.
Taipei is looking to expand its YouBike network over the coming two years, the department said.
By 2026, the capital aims to increase the number of stations from 1,338 to 2,000 and the number of bikes from 16,562 to 27,500, it said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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