Taipei authorities have issued a public warning urging people not to ride bicycles after consuming alcohol, following a sharp rise in riding under the influence (DUI) cases involving bicycles.
Five hundred and seven people were charged with DUI last year while riding YouBikes, personal bicycles, or other self-propelled two-wheelers — a fourfold increase from the previous year, data released by the Taipei Police Department’s Traffic Division showed.
Of these, 33 cases were considered severe enough to be prosecuted under “offenses against public safety,” the data showed.
Photo: CNA
Under the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), bicycles — including YouBikes and other pedal-powered or electric-assisted vehicles with a top speed of 25kph or less — fall under the category of “slow-moving vehicles” (慢車). This also includes electric scooters and skateboards.
While bicycles are generally considered safer and slower, riding under the influence still poses a serious public safety risk, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei Councilor Tseng Hsien-ying (曾獻瑩) said on Sunday.
“Offenders can be prosecuted under the Criminal Code for public safety violations and face criminal penalties,” Tseng said. “However, many people mistakenly believe that riding a bicycle after drinking only results in a warning, not legal action — yet it is becoming an increasingly serious road safety issue in the city.”
Tseng attributed the situation to a general lack of awareness about traffic laws, calling it a blind spot in law enforcement and public education.
He urged the Taipei City Government to intensify public legal education campaigns about traffic regulations — especially during high-risk periods and in incident-prone areas — and to install warning signs at YouBike stations to remind riders of the consequences of riding under the influence.
A Taipei traffic police officer said officers monitor slow-moving vehicles for signs of erratic behavior such as swerving or drifting out of bike lanes.
If alcohol use is suspected, such as from the smell of a rider’s breath, officers would stop the cyclist and administer a breath alcohol test.
If a rider is found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding the legal limit of 0.15 milligrams per liter (about 0.03 percent BAC), they are in violation of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, the officer said.
Contraveners face a fine ranging from NT$1,200 to NT$2,400 and would be prohibited from continuing to ride, the officer added.
Those who refuse to take breath alcohol test can be fined NT$4,800, the officer said.
If the bicycle or device involved has auxiliary power — such as electric-assist systems — the rider might also face charges under the Criminal Code for offenses against public safety, which carry more serious legal consequences, the officer added.
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