In a keynote address at the Taipei Cycle Show, ECF’s Development Director Kevin Mayne explains why the world needs Taiwan to become a cycling island

Taiwan’s often been called “the Bicycle Kingdom”. Last year it managed to export over $1.8 billion in bicycle products, and is regarded as a global player in mid-to-high range bicycle production. I saw this with my own eyes, because this week I was at the Tapei Cycle Show, which has products on show from over 1,000 exhibitors.  

Yet while Taiwan does a brilliant job at exporting bicycles, it’s no longer a place where people commute with pedal power; in a country of 23 million people, Taiwan has 5.7 million cars, 14 million motorcycles, and only 1 million bicycles. Motorised transport dominates the city of Taipei. (See this great post by journalist Carlton Reid for an in-depth analysis.)

Cycle Infrastructure Taipei. Credit: Kevin Mayne

I had the chance to speak at a prestigious forum entitled “Forging Taiwan to be a cycling island” which brought together the industry, tourism, economic, transport, advocacy and education sectors to present their contributions to the field. I described the world-wide movement of cities, towns, advocates and industry leaders all working to promote cycling as a solution to global challenges such as efficient use of energy, obesity and climate change. 

My message; it’s time for Taiwan to start planning for more cycling and it’s time they start planning now. Leading cities are planning and building the capacity they need for 2030.

Imagine if the country showed the same leadership and innovation in converting its cities to cycling then it could become a leader in transport cycling too. The results would benefit the cities and the bike industry and the country would be welcomed to the top tier of cycling countries.

Taiwan also has many conditions in its favour: a strong bicycle industry is to the country's advantage in developing into a cycling paradise. And let’s not forget the Taiwanese people's underlying interest in cycling, evident in the fact that many local people still ride bikes on the roads.

Yet, as is the case in Europe, if the country wants more people cycling, then they need to radically rethink the relationship between public space and motorised mobility. Taiwan, and especially Taipei, needs to lower its speed limits and allocate more space for cyclists if it wants to be a true ‘cycling island’.

Chairing the session was Giant Cycles CEO Tony Lo, who heads the world’s largest bicycle company. He said that being a cycling island meant a continued successful bike industry, a cycling paradise that attracted tourism and cities where cycling was good for the environment.

King Liu, founder and Chairman of Giant also presented a keynote address where he set out some of the history of the cycling industry in Taiwan. He also suggested that the transport element of cycling was missing. When the Mayor of Bern visited, he was told that Taipei “did not feel like a city that was ready to start cycling”. He showcased his personal vision that the Taipei bike rental system Youbike would become the best system in the world and become a symbol of the change needed.

If Taiwan was not only exporting bicycles, but also exporting bicycle culture, than there’s little doubt that they’d be selling even more bicycles around the world. Time for the Bicycle Kingdom to live up to its name. 

About the Author

Kevin Mayne is the Director of Development at ECF and an avid cyclist. More information about his work with the Cycling Industry Club can be found here.