Commuting Safely by Bicycle
by Daniel Mojahedi

(This article first appeared in Discover Taipei and is kindly reprinted with the permission of the author and the Taipei City Government Department of Information).

Every now and then, among the sea of scooters, taxis, and buses that crowd Taipei's streets, you can see a few brave souls riding along on a bicycle. Many of these people do not ride out of simple economic necessity. On the contrary, some of their bikes are worth more than the scooters that rush by them. So why is it that they ride their bicycles, when there are so many other convenient ways to get around the city? In this article, we will take a look at who is riding, what the government is doing to make the ride easier and more pleasant, and what you can do to get started.

Bicycling in this city has become popular with people of all ages, nationalities, and professions. Some riders are teachers, some are computer programmers, some are businessmen.

Bruce Zen is a twenty-nine-year-old computer programmer who has been riding his bike to work nearly every day for the past three years. He and his wife live in Liuzhangli and work in Xinyi district, leaving Bruce with a two-kilometer ride, something he is able to complete on most days in less than ten minutes.

"As soon as I completed my obligatory military service, I bought a bike for commuting. I decided to commute by bicycle because it seemed to me the most convenient form of transportation. Scooters get caught up in traffic jams too easily and I did not feel that taking the bus was that convenient. Riding a bicycle to work is more free and relaxing."

Boaz Chen, a thirty-eight year old army lieutenant-colonel, started riding in May, and now uses his bicycle to make the journey from his home in Muzha to his office in Nangang district. "I wanted to give myself a challenge, and since I love riding, this was the perfect one. It is a lot of fun and I do not have to pay for gas."

Quinton Pullinger is a thirty-two-year-old South African working as a product marketing manager for one of Taiwan's leading manufacturers of bicycle frames. He makes the twenty-three-kilometer trek from his home near Xindian to his office in Sanchong in just under one hour. "I started riding to work for exercise. After doing it for a while, I found that my energy level increased. I used to come home from work really tired, but once I started riding my bike, I found that I had more energy to do more things, and do them faster. It really does improve the quality of life."

The City Takes the Lead
The Taipei city administration is now spending a lot of time, effort, and money to encourage more people to ride bikes. Although its policy is focused more on bicycling for leisure, many of the improvements benefit commuters as well.

For example, it has been working aggressively to expand and connect the bike-path system through the riverside parks. While riding in the park sounds more like a leisure activity, the paths serve a very practical purpose as well. Taipei is surrounded on three sides by the Xindian, Danshui, and Keelung rivers, meaning that most commercial districts within Taipei are within reasonable bicycling distance from these paths."

The paths are really beautiful and give me a different view of the city than when I take my scooter or the bus," says Quinton Pullinger. He spends much of his journey riding along the Xindian River. "It is a relaxing ride."

These riverside paths are being developed at a rapid pace, with one-hundred kilometers already laid out. Over this year and the next, the government will be focusing its energies on connecting gaps within individual parks and linking separate parks together to make for a more continuous ride around Taipei. These gaps have been difficult to fill due to surrounding levees and narrow riverbanks. However, the government is expecting to complete these projects by end-2006.

nto the City
In addition, the city has been developing sidewalk paths specifically designated for bicycles. At just over twenty-one kilometers in total length, these arteries do not cover nearly as much area as those along the riversides, but they do run through key parts of the city.

Currently there are three areas which offer such paths: Zhonghua Road near Ximending, Xinyi district near Taipei City Hall, and one that goes around the perimeter of Daan Park, then extends south to National Taiwan University along Xinsheng S. Rd. The government is now trying a path running along Renai Road from Taipei City Hall to Zhongshan South Road, creating an east-west line that runs right through the heart of the city.

Safety First
A key challenge facing Taipei City Government is convincing people to get out and ride. The greatest problem is concern about safety. In a survey done by the city in 2004, people listed safety concerns as one of the top reasons they do not ride bikes. In addition, when asked separately whether or not people considered riding in the city safe, a staggering eighty percent said no.

"People are afraid that riding is not safe," says Pullinger. "However, I think this is more about perceptions than actual fact, though it is hard to change concepts on this."

Indeed bicycles are safe. In Taipei's annual analyses of traffic accidents, bicycles are constantly shown to be just as safe as any other form of private transportation.

To combat this negative perception, the city recently hosted its third annual Car-free Day in concert with many other major cities around the world. During the event, a parade of people rode bikes through Taipei city and county, enjoying the relaxing view of the area that you can only get from a bike.

In addition to making Taipei a more accessible place for people on bicycle, the city government is also working to make it safer. To do this, it has established four basic rules for those riding. These rules include stopping at red lights, not crossing or riding in high-speed lanes, and riding in the far right lane to allow faster vehicles to pass safely. The government has been encouraging people to follow these rules through various public-service announcements and posters placed in the city's parks. However, starting in March of next year, these rules will be more actively enforced though fines for violators. While most of these rules are already understood and followed by most riders already, they should help make riding in the city all the safer.

Despite the small number of people currently commuting by bike, things are improving. "There are now a lot more people commuting to work," says Bruce Zen. "When I first starting riding, I would only come across four or five other people riding their bikes a week. Now I see four or five people a day."

Getting Launched
So, how do those who are interested in commuting by bike get started? The first thing you will need to do is get a good bike. "First of all, people should consider what they will be using it for," says Quinton. "A lot of people these days buy mountain bikes, but never actually ride them in the mountains. If you are planning to use the bike for commuting, buy a city bike. Also make sure that the bicycle suits your budget. If you are going to just use it for riding to and from work, don't spend several thousand dollars on it."

One increasingly popular option is the folding bicycle. These bikes are both light and portable. Newer models come with their own carrying bag, allowing you to pack them up and carry them into offices and the MRT. They are easy to collapse and can be ready to carry in under a minute. You can get a mid-range, seven-speed model for about NT$7,000. Upper-end models can be well over NT$50,000.

In addition, you need to consider what to bring with you. "The basic necessities are a helmet, goggles, and lights for the front and back. Getting things like gloves and a water bottle is up to each person," states Eddie Chen, a teacher who commutes from Xindian to Sanxia in Taipei County. "If you are afraid of getting too sweaty, you can wear athletic clothes to ride in and just bring your work clothes with you to change into."

Another tip on how to avoid arriving at work in a sweaty mess, from Bruce Zen, is to leave home a little earlier while it is still cool outside, and to ride at a more leisurely pace. Using a pannier, which latches on to the back of your bike, instead of a backpack, will also keep your back dryer.

Ironically, one of the most important considerations regarding commuting by bicycle is what to do with your bike once you arrive at your destination. While buying a lock is a must, it is no guarantee that your bike will not be stolen. "Thieves are very good these days," says Mr. Liu, the second-generation owner of a bicycle shop on Xinglong Road. "Regardless of how much you spend on your lock, they can defeat it. If you will be away from your bike for a while, the best thing to do is to use two locks, one on each wheel. Or better yet, park your bicycle indoors." The good news is that as employers place greater importance on the health of their employees, parking bicycles in the office is becoming a viable option.

Other tips for bicycle commuters include finding out if there are any bike paths along your route to work, first practicing the trip on a weekend, and biking to work only once or twice a week at first.

Commuting by bicycle is definitely a challenge, and might not be for everybody. However, for those who do give it a try, the benefits and ever-expanding resources are out there to get you started and keep you going. Have a safe trip!