Look At Taipei: Bike-Sharing Programs And Sustainable Tourism

taipei, youbike, bike sharing, tourism, brand karma

In a dense, bustling city like Taipei, ease of mobility is a constant necessity that is answered with MRT, trains, buses, and an endless stream of yellow cabs – not to mention those achromatic, ubiquitous scooters.

But in spite of these modes of transportation, Taipei is nonetheless an area of walkable urbanism, meaning that its districts are accessible by means other than gas or electric-powered vehicles.

Enter bike sharing

The idea first emerged in Amsterdam in the late 1960s, where white bikes were positioned throughout the city for residents to borrow and re-share. The preliminary program lasted for only a short period though, as residents often inappropriately discarded or stole the vehicles for private use.

Bike sharing as a concept remained largely dormant until 2005, when Lyon saw the potential of the program and launched it on a large scale: 15,000 users and 1,500 bikes. Paris took note, followed by cities across the world – South Korea, New Zealand, the United States, and eventually Taiwan.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Giant, the world’s largest bike manufacturer established and based in Taiwan. Since 2009, they have partnered with the Taipei government in developing bike sharing across the capital city, starting initially in the Xinyi District with 500 bikes and 11 rental stations.

With its orange frame and sunny-hued YouBike logo, the Giant-made bikes have added a dash of color to the city streets as more tourists and locals take to biking to get around. Four years later, the program has spread to 12 districts throughout Taipei City, totaling 1,460 bikes and 41 rental stations.

With bike sharing comes a host of added benefits of transportation and innovative approaches on tourism.

Continue reading here: QR Codes: Interactive Bridge Between Real and Virtual Worlds

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