Cycling life Taiwan

Here in Taiwan cycling has gone through tremendous changes over the past 50 years.  Decades ago cycling was major mode of transportation in Taiwan, but with economic growth and urbanization mopeds replaced the bicycle as the primary mode of transportation. 

Video and picture of two older Taiwanese holding on to the cycling culture of their youth.

Taiwan is home to the world’s largest manufacturer of bikes, Giant and a thriving bike industry. In fact I missed being in Taiwan for Taichung Bike Week, the major international bike industry conference that occurs each year. I did have the chance to meet with Giant’s foundation, the Cycling Lifestyle Foundation. The foundation is transforming cycling in Taiwan making it not only a means for transportation, but a leading recreational activity. 

Vicky Yang, the foundation’s president, told me about her efforts over the last few years. The foundation has worked hard to change the way citizens think about cycling. Beginning in 1998 the foundation donated 1,000 bikes to Taipei for a community rental program at newly constructed bike trails. In 2000 Taipei kicked off its first car-free days with the support of the foundation. Perhaps the biggest transformation is occurring with Taiwan youth with the foundation sponsoring rides for 16 (50K), 18 (100K) and 20 (circle island ride) year-olds that are becoming a rite of passage. The foundation attracted international attention when to celebrate the Republic of China’s 100^th anniversary they organized the One Bike One event when 72,919 were confirmed o be riding at one time around the island, though unofficial estimates place the ride at more than 100,000. The government is supporting these efforts with a massive bike trail building program occurring across the nation.

Use the minus (-) sign to see more trails or View Popular routes in the Northern Taiwan in a larger map

Among the leaders in this effort is Professor Hsin-Wen Chang of Chung-Hua University. She has been a key player in planning routes around the island and making cycling an important part of Taiwan’s tourist economy. Her work is paying off. Earlier this year, Lonely Planet declared Taiwan one of its Top 10 destinations saying, “So why is 2012 the time to visit? Because Taiwan is best seen on two wheels and in recent years the authorities have embraced the biking market with surprising enthusiasm, vision and (most importantly) funding. This year sees the linking of thousands of kilometers of paths, including two round-the-island routes, and a host of other cycling friendly infrastructure projects.” Taipei and Kaohsiung have extensive and easily accessible trail networks and a national network is in the works. 

Both Taipei and Koahsiung also have public bike share systems. I used Kaohsiung's C-bike system extensively while I was there.  The system of 50 stations and more than 4,000 bikes was built in a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement for about $2.5 million, with contributions from a government air pollution control fund, the city government, and the central government's economic stimulus package. 

Kaohsiung well used bike trail along its Love River

C-Bike Station

This trail along an abandoned rail line will be reconstructed when a light rail line is built in the next few years.

The bikes are not as sturdy as those in the North American Bixi and B-Cycle systems and after a little more than a year of service are showing wear.  Though that means they are well used and that is definitely what I saw riding around much the weekend.   

The Youbike system in Taipei was initially launched as partnership between Giant Bicycle and the City of Taipei with Giant picking up the costs.  Now with government support the system is rapidly expanding across Taipei. With expansion still ongoing the system is averaging 10,000 rides a day. The first hour is free and there is no membership fee. Vicky told me, “Taiwanese won’t pay for a membership, so we are going to have to keep working with the government on the business model.”

Sadly, it has rained pretty much every moment that I haven’t been in a meeting in Taipei, so I haven’t had a chance to try the system.

Catching up on biking down under

During my fellowship I have had the opportunity to look at bike infrastructure in no less than six cities and I am pleased to report Philadelphia is doing very well compared to our counterparts in Australia and Taiwan. I'll write about cycling in Taiwan in a separate post, for now let me catch you up on what I saw down under. Philadelphia has three important advantages when it comes to cycling as means of transportation: we’re a largely flat city, we have dense residential areas within two miles of our job hubs in Center City and University City, and our often narrow streets (even those without bike lanes) are more comfortable to ride on than the wide expanses and fast move vehicles that make up streets in many other part of the world.

Australian cities are working to increase the rates of cycling for the same mix of reasons we are: cycling is a low impact form of transportation that when it replaces auto trips both improves air quality and reduces congestion and cycling is a great way for citizens to become more physically active. Australia is facing an obesity epidemic not so different from ours and has come to the realization that how we design and operate our communities can impact how we live.  Shocking, I know. 

There are also two important differences between Philadelphia and Australia. Transportation officials in Philadelphia are not so much working to spur demand for cycling, but working to keep up with demand. Australia has a mandatory helmet law. I always wear a helmet. After an accident more than a decade ago that put a crack straight though my helmet I have been known to harass friends who don’t wear one. That said, I don’t think mandatory helmet make a lot of sense and the Dutch even argue against helmet wearing all together. Speaking of helmets, if you haven’t see the invisible helmet, check this video out. 

The mandatory helmet laws have also been blamed as a key inhibitor to the success of bike share programs in Australia.  Both Brisbane’s bike share and Melbourne’s bike share are known to be struggling and requiring operating subsidies.  This is in contrast to North American and European bike share programs that have largely succeed without operating subsidies.   In Brisbane, I think the main inhibitor; however is the lack of good cycling infrastructure. There are few bike lanes (though some great trails) and the wide streets lead to high speed traffic.  

Peacefully sharing the space in Melbourne

Brisbane bike share system struggles to attract riders

Melbourne by contrast has the infrastructure and cyclists including those on bike share are a common site.  The Royal Automotive Club of Victoria (like the AAA of Victoria), who operates the bike share program, is addressing the helmet program by making them available at 7-11s for just AUS$5. RACV is a major advocate of multi-modal investments and provides road side assistance for bikes. As Brian Negus, RACV's policy director told me, "Our members don't just travel by car and we have interests in representing all their transportation needs."

Sydney has made considerable efforts to expand its bike lane network, but the political response last May from state elected officials was to require the City to get approval for any and all transportation related decisions. Though, perhaps to the states chagrin, the committee set up to issue the approvals just endorsed more bike lanes. 

Here are some links to bike plan documents for Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. We in Philadelphia and the US may be doing well on cycling infrastructure, but after looking at some of these sites I think you’ll agree our  government websites could use some upgrades.

Sydney Cycling Strategy - http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/aboutsydney/parkingandtransport/cycling/CycleStrategyAndActionPlan.asp

New South Wales Cycling Information - http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/

Brisbane - http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/sports-and-leisure/cycling/index.htm

Queensland Cycle Network Program - http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Cycling/Cycle-network-program.aspx

Adelaide Bike Action Plan - http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/development/major-projects/bicycle-action-plan/

Signs of what’s to come: Taiwan declares bike supremacy at ATL

I snapped this picture in the international terminal at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. The airport is the busiest in the world, both in terms of passengers and take offs and landings. When you advertise at ATL you have a global reach.  The small print reads, “We are committed to put more bikes on the road than any other country.” I’ll be spending at least one day looking at cycling issues in Taiwan, so more on this topic in a few weeks.