David on Formosa

There is a good opinion piece in today's Taipei Times about promoting cycling in Taiwan. The article raises a number of good points. 

The positive benefits of cycling are well known. I must admit I don't cycle as much as I should or would like to in Taiwan. Here are some of the reasons which apply not just to me, but more generally. 

1. Weather 

It's very hot and humid in summer and in many parts of the island it can often rain for days on end. Hardly ideal for cycling. This is one thing that is difficult to change. More shady tree-lined boulevards like Ren'ai Road in Taipei would help to make cycling more pleasant in summer.  

2. Road safety

I always think of road safety as an oxymoron and that is especially so in Taiwan. The roads are poorly engineered, road rules are regarded with disdain and road users have a "me first" mentality. Many people are deterred from cycling because the roads are dangerous. Constructing more bicycle paths and re-engineering roads to better accommodate cyclists is part of the solution. Public education about road safety combined with better law enforcement is really the key though. This would make Taiwan's roads a safer place for everybody.  

3. Parking and storage

The side walks are crammed with scooters and there is usually nothing to secure a bicycle to to prevent theft. You just have to put some sort of lock on the wheels and frame and hope some thief doesn't like your bike enough to pick it up and carry it away. 

There has been some effort to install bicycle parking at some MRT stations in Taipei. The picture at the side shows a well designed double-decker bicycle rack at the Fuzhong MRT station. Unfortunately bicycle parking facilities like this are rare. Witness the sidewalks around NTU which are overflowing with bicycles. An area like this is crying out for some similarly well designed bike racks. Many of the bicycle racks are poorly designed as they only allow a single wheel to be secured. The problem with these racks are two-fold. They don't provide adequate security against theft and bikes can be easily damaged while parked in them. 

Also, most people in Taiwan live in multi-story apartment buildings where storing a bike is difficult. I own two bicycles. I have a cheap bike I purchased second-hand that I keep on the street outside my apartment building. I also have an expensive mountain bike which I keep in my apartment. However, I live on the sixth floor and my building has no lift. Carrying the bike up or down a narrow staircase is such a hassle that I don't take my mountain bike out as much as I would like.   

4. Perceptions about cycling

There has been a notable increase in the number of people riding bicycles for recreation in recent years. The bicycle paths along the rivers in Taipei City have undoubtedly done much to encourage this. While this is a good thing it highlights a major problem with planning. Cycling is perceived of only as a recreational activity and infrastructure is planned with this in mind. Little thought is given to the possibilities of cycling as a truly alternative form of transport. The bicycle paths might be a good place to ride on the weekend, but they don't help people who want to commute to work or go shopping.