Taiwan Cycling Guide 台灣騎自行車指南

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Riding a bicycle around Taiwan may be the best way to enjoy the island.  Taiwan is known as the bicycle kingdom not just because it is one of the top manufacturers of bicycles in the world, but also because the Island of Taiwan has many amazing world-class roads waiting for cyclists to discover such as hundreds of kilometers of coastline, mountains above 3000 meters, and the world's deepest marble gorge. If you are a fan of cycling, you definitely need to check out this amazing island. 

​Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here.

Looking for a bike tour of Taiwn? Search KKday here to search for options. ​

​Renting a Bicycle in Taiwan 在台灣租腳踏車:

As a foreigner in Taiwan visiting for a short time you may be wondering, where can I rent a bicycle in Taiwan? There are a few options:

• Ubike/Youbike – This is a bike rental platform that uses fixed parking areas. You can find them in most of Taiwan. They are at most MRT stations, making it easy to get from the MRT or bus stop to your final destination. The fare is 10 NT for 30 minutes.
• Road Bike Rental – You can rent a road bike for about 1000 NT a day at a local bike shop such as Merida or Giant. I highly recommend this shop in Taipei. 

​How do I use a Youbike in Taiwan?
To use Youbike you will need to buy an Easy card (悠游卡) or iPass card (一卡通). These cards can be purchased at most MRT stations, and are usually $100 NT. Once you have a card, you will need to register it at a Youbike Station using a local cell phone number. If you do not have a cell phone number in Taiwan, you can go to a local cell provider such as Chuanghua Telecom or Taiwan Mobile and show your passport to buy a SIM card.
Alternatively, you can use a credit card to rent a Youbike (can only be used one time per card).
Fares are 10 NT for 30 minutes, or free for the first 30 minutes if your trip originates from New Taipei City.
After you have a card you should:

1. Swipe the card next to an open bike.
2. Wait for the bike to unlock.
3. Ride to your next destination.
4. Place your bike in the Youbike stand and swipe your card to see how much money was deducted.

Buying a Bicycle in Taiwan 在台灣買腳踏車:

Buying a bike is easy. The main brands in Taiwan are Merida and Giant, and you can find their stores all over the island. 

​Fixing a Bicycle in Taiwan 在台灣修路腳踏車:

After riding a bike for a long time in Taiwan, you will certainly run into maintenance issues. To avoid problems, always make sure you have good tire pressure, your chain and flywheels are clean and oiled, and your brakes are tightened. 

However, when a problem occurs, you will likely need to take it to a bike shop for repair. Besides Giant and Merida, there are other small "grandpa" bike shops everywhere. They usually do not charge much if anything for labor to fix your bike. You can try to point and gesture the problem with your bike, or you can learn some Chinese words:

Common bicycle vocabulary in Taiwan 常見腳踏車零件用語及詞彙:

English to Chinese translation of bicycle part names can be tricky, and chances are that Google Translate will be wrong. These words are highly specific and technical. Therefore we created this vocab list for your reference:

(English 英文/Pinyin 拼音/Chinese Characters 中文字)
Broken  壞掉    Huài diào
Fix        修理    xiūlǐ
Replace           換        huàn
How much money?     多少錢?          duōshǎo qián?
How much money to fix this? 修理這個多少錢?      Xiūlǐ zhège duōshǎo qián?
Can you fix this?          這個可以修理嗎?      Zhège kěyǐ xiūlǐ ma?
Can you replace this?  你可以換這個嗎?      Nǐ kěyǐ huàn zhège ma?
How much money to replace this?     換這個多少錢?          Huàn zhège duōshǎo qián?
Bycicle 腳踏車/自行車/單車 Jiǎotàchē/zìxíngchē/dānchē
(Bicycle) part   零件    língjiàn
Road Bike        公路車            Gōnglù chē
Mountain Bike 山車    Shānchē
Freewheel/cassette     飛輪    fēilún
Seat Stay          後上叉            hòu shàng chā
Brake Block     煞車皮            shāchē pí
Brakes               煞車                shāchē
Brake Cable     煞車線            shāchē xiàn
Caliper Brake  煞車夾器        shāchē jiā qì
Brake Cable     煞車線            shāchē xiàn
Seat Post Clamp          座管束            zuò guǎnshù
Saddle                坐墊    zuòdiàn
Seat Post         座管    zuò guǎn
Top Tube          上管    shàng guǎn
Head Parts      車頭碗組        chētóu wǎn zǔ
Stem Cap         上蓋    shànggài
Stem                 龍頭    lóngtóu
Handlebar       車手把            chē shǒu bà
Tape                  手把帶            shǒu bà dài
Brake/Shift Level         煞車/換檔級別           shāchē/huàn dǎng jíbié
Shocks         避震器            bì zhèn qì
Fork             前叉    qián chā
Wheel       車輪    chēlún
Spoke   輻條    fútiáo
Hub      花鼓    huāgǔ
Tire      輪胎    lúntāi
Tread   紋路    wénlù
Rim      輪框    lún kuāng
Dropout   勾爪    gōu zhǎo
Nipple  銅頭    tóng tóu
Vavle    氣嘴    qì zuǐ
Crank   曲柄    qūbǐng
Gears   齒輪    chǐlún
Chainring/chainwheel 大盤    dàpán
Bottom Bracket           五通/中軸/BB wǔ tōng/zhōngzhóu/BB
Front Derailleur          前變速器        qián biànsùqì
Pedal   踏板    tàbǎn
Chain   鏈條    liàntiáo
Chain Stay        後下叉            hòu xià chā
Rear Derailleur            後變速器        hòu biànsùqì
Derailleur Cable          變速線            biànsù xiàn

Riding a bicycle safely in Taiwan 在台灣騎自行車安全須知:
First I would like to share my experiences with all of you. I have been riding a bicycle in Taipei for over six years now, and I have seen my fair share of accidents. I have collided with people opening their car doors, I have collided with other cyclists, had near misses with busses, and I have collided with bushes, the road, and pedestrians. 
A few weeks ago, I collided with a woman as we were both trying to cross the street during the green light for a pedestrian crosswalk. She walked out from behind a bus and I did not have enough time to react. My shoulder caught her arm, and she spun around and fell to the ground, while I continued forward. We both were at fault. I crossed the street from the main road, and she was not walking on the crosswalk.  In the end, the police came, made a police report, and she was taken to the hospital for a fractured elbow. I tried to offer money for her medical costs, but she refused. She could have sued me for more money but she didn't because she is a nice person. But things could have gone much, much worse. From this experience, I have some basic advice for foreigners riding in Taiwan, especially if you plan on riding in Taiwan long term:
Words of advice:

• Wear a helmet. Even though helmets are not required by law, a helmet could save your life in a crash, especially with a car or bus.
• Do not compromise safety for speed or convenience. Better safe than sorry. Safety first.
• Don't run red lights. You will notice that in Taiwan some people run red lights on bicycles and are never fined or stopped by the police. Even though it may not be enforced, this is a dangerous habit that could get you or someone else killed.
• Don't ride in the wrong direction. This may seem safe if you see no cars, but eventually your luck will run out and you will get in an accident. 
• If you are in a car lane in front of a four-way pedestrian crosswalk when the pedestrian and bicycle lights are green, you still have to wait for the car traffic light. If you cross the white line into the pedestrian area, this is considered running a red light. You can only enter the pedestrian crosswalk legally from the sidewalk. If you cross that line and hit a pedestrian, it is your fault. 
• Consider getting insurance for your bike. If you are like me and accidentally hit an old lady in a pedestrian area who falls down and is seriously injured, you could be financially liable. Ubike has cheap insurance for all members. Sign up for Ubike's insurance and if you have your own bike, get some insurance.
• If you get in a serious accident, leave your bike where you crashed, call the police, and wait for the police to come. This is the rule for Taiwan traffic laws, even though it may impede traffic. 
• Slow down when you are on sidewalks. Avoid hitting pedestrians at all costs. Stay at a low speed and stop to avoid collisions. 
• Keep your brakes well-maintained. The biggest safety improvement you can make to your bike is having brakes that stop quickly. Tune your brakes regularly, it could save you money and it could save your life. This applies especially on rainy days. All the accidents I have ever been in could have been avoided if I had better brakes and braked sooner. 
• Use a loud bell. This will let pedestrians know to get out of the way or stay to the side of a sidewalk or bike path. 
• Use bright lights and reflectors on the front and back of your bike. This will prevent you front being hit by a car at night.
•  Avoid buses and bus stops. Buses can and will cut you off if you are cycling on the road in Taipei. I am cut off by buses multiple times a day. In a collision between a bus and a bike, the bus wins every time. Be aware and expect them to stop at every bus stop. You can go around the left side of them, but not the right side. If you try to go around the right side of the bus, you will likely run into pedestrians that are trying to get on and off the bus. The safest course of action is to stop and wait for the bus to drive off. 
• Keep your distance from parked cars. Parked cars can open their doors at any time, and some people will forget to look for oncoming traffic behind them. I have hit someone's car door, which sucked for them and also damaged my bike. 
• When in doubt, stop, yield, and wait. As you can see from the regulations below, bikes are required to yield for everyone and everything. If you have doubts about what is safe or legal, better to stop and wait than go on ahead and get in an accident. 

What are the regulations for riding a bike in Taiwan? (臺灣自行車規則-英文版)
In a previous blog we have provided our personal experience, a summary of Taiwan bicycle laws, as well as an appendix of the fully translated Taipei/Taiwan bicycle laws. Check out the full blog post here.


Other Frequently Asked Questions 其他常見問題:

Q: What are some popular cycling routes in Taiwan?
A: Popular cycling routes in Taiwan include the Sun Moon Lake Bike Trail, the Taipei Riverside Bikeway, and the East Coast Scenic Area.
For longer more grand bike routes, I recommend going around the entire coast of Taiwan, the southern cross-island highway, central cross-island highway, and northern cross-island highway. 

Q: Are there any cycling events in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many cycling events in Taiwan, including theTaiwan KOM Challenge and the Taiwan Cyclist Federation's annual cycling festival.

Q: Are there any cycling tours available in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many cycling tours available in Taiwan, including guided tours and self-guided tours. 
Looking for a bike tour of Taiwn? Click here to search for options. 

Q: Is it possible to cycle around the entire island of Taiwan?
A: Yes, it is possible to cycle around the entire island of Taiwan. The route is approximately 900 miles and takes about 10-14 days. The stretch between Hualien and Yilan is often skipped though due to the treacherous mountain terrain, and the fact that the only highway often has large busses and trucks that drive along it. 

Q: Are there mountain biking trails in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are mountain biking trails in Taiwan, however some trails are not meant for mountain biking and ban bicycles. Make sure to check beforehand. 

Q: Is riding a bicycle a popular mode of transportation in Taiwan?
A: Yes, cycling is very popular in Taiwan, especially for leisure and commuting purposes.

Q: Are there bike lanes in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are some dedicated bike lanes in many areas of Taiwan, especially in urban areas like Taipei but they are not everywhere.

Q: Is it safe to ride a bicycle in Taiwan?
A: Generally, it is safe to ride a bicycle in Taiwan. However, you should always wear a helmet, obey traffic laws, and consider buying insurance to minimize the risk of accidents.

Q: What kind of bike should I ride in Taiwan?
A: A hybrid or mountain bike with wider tires is recommended for uneven terrain or city travel in Taiwan. For long-distance travel on paved roads, get a road bike. 

Q: Are there rental bikes available in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many rental bike services available in Taiwan, such as through Merida and Giant stores or bike sharing like YouBike. See the section above for more details. 

Q: How much does it cost to rent a bike in Taiwan?
A: The cost of renting a bike in Taiwan varies depending on the rental service and location. Youtube, a bike sharing company, charges 10 NT per half hour. 
A road bike from a bike shop will cost about 1000 NT a day to rent. 

Q: Can I ride a bike on the national freeways in Taiwan?
A: No, it is illegal to ride a bicycle on the national freeways in Taiwan. Stick to designated bike lanes and paths with fewer cars and traffic if possible.

Q: Do I need a license to ride a bicycle in Taiwan?
A: No, you do not need a license to ride a bicycle in Taiwan.

Q: Do I need to wear a helmet in Taiwan?
A: It is not required by law to wear helmets in Taiwan, but for your safety you should still wear one. 

Q: Can I bring my own bicycle to Taiwan?
A: Yes, you can bring your own bicycle to Taiwan. However, you may need to pay an extra fee to transport it on public transportation. It is possible to transport your bike both on the MRT and TRA.

Q: Is it common to wear helmets when cycling in Taiwan?
A: No, most people do not wear helmets while cycling, especially while using shared bikes like Youbike. But you should still wear a helmet for your safety. 

Q: Can I cycle on the sidewalks in Taiwan?
A: Yes, it is legal to cycle on the sidewalks in Taiwan, but you are required to yield to pedestrians. 

Q: Can I park my bike anywhere in Taiwan?
A: No, technically you should only park your bike in designated bike parking areas. However this rule is almost never enforced. 

Q: Is it easy to find bike parking in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many bike parking areas available in Taiwan, especially in urban areas.

Q: Is it safe to cycle at night in Taiwan?
A: Yes, it is safe to cycle at night in Taiwan, but you should use lights, reflectors, and bright clothing to increase your visibility.

Q: What is the best time of year to cycle in Taiwan?
A: The best time of year to cycle in Taiwan is  from November to February when the weather is cooler.

Q: What should I bring with me on a cycling trip to Taiwan?
A: You should bring a helmet,  comfortable cycling clothes, a repair kit, sunscreen, and plenty of water.

Q: Is it easy to find accommodations for cyclists in Taiwan?
A: Yes, there are many accommodations that cater to cyclists in Taiwan, such as bike-friendly hotels and homestays.
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotels deals in Taiwan here.

Q: What should I do if I get lost while cycling in Taiwan?
You can use a map or a GPS device to navigate while cycling in Taiwan. If you get lost, you can ask for directions from locals or use a translation app to communicate.
For more information, check out our foreigner survival guide here.

You can find more tours of Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here. 
​
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more of our guides on Taiwan to come!

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