Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:53 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Sponsors
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!
▪	Save 75% for all hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and whole China. Lowest rates for Flights in China.

Biking accidents in Taipei City escalate

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- There has been a total of 395 reported bicycling accidents, totaling 4 percent of all traffic accidents this year starting from January to May, Taipei Traffic Accidents Statistics show.

Compared to last year, reported cases of cycling accidents increased by 29 percent, while death tolls rose by 43 percent. While the bicycle is becoming an increasingly common form of transportation, bicycling accidents have risen along with its popularity.

Taipei City Department of Transportation has expressed that many citizens have the habit of riding bicycles after work or after dark for exercise. In areas along river banks or along city streets, bicyclists are increasing everyday. The main cause of cycling accidents during nighttime is from lack of attention, causing collisions. It is recommended that bicyclists install lights on the handlebars to be easily seen in the dark.

Further analysis from the DOT shows that bicycling accidents occurring near street intersections occupy 56 percent, where side collisions or scraping accidents are prone to occur. Bicyclists are also reportedly prone to breaking traffic laws, often disregarding traffic lights, biking in reverse direction down one-way lanes, or making wrong turns on open streets. Bicyclists should check traffic signs, pay attention to traffic flow, give other vehicles signals when making a turn and follow traffic laws more rigorously so as to avoid accidents.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

Comments

July 16, 2009 eddie@

The way people here have no concept of traffic laws and common sense, it's no surprise these accidents happen. Actually I would think of these "accidents" more as acts of stupidity.

July 17, 2009 whoknows@

It seems nobody in Taiwan cares to follow traffic laws or extend any general courtesy. I don't see what's the big surprise in this story. Might as well write a story about how pedestrians in Taiwan never have the right of way, constantly dodging anything on wheels.

July 17, 2009 mafrei2000@

whoknows@ wrote:
It seems nobody in Taiwan cares to follow traffic laws or extend any general courtesy. I don't see what's the big surprise in this story. Might as well write a story about how pedestrians in Taiwan never have the right of way, constantly dodging anything on wheels.

Moreover, and even more frightening, the police doesn't care about traffic offenders. Every minute in Taipei you can see motorcycles or cars violating red traffic light or parking on red lines with police just standing by and feel bored. City government could earn a lot of money if traffic rules were enforced rigorously.

July 17, 2009 mcwizard@

Anyone that is surprised by this story obviously does not live here. Even my 90 year old granny is afraid to cross the street. No one gives walkers or bikers the right of way. Whoever wrote this article must live somewhere else. Bikers are just following the same law breaking attitude that motor scooter riders have. Where are the police? Drinking coffee at Starbucks?

July 19, 2009 orzmen@

Cyclists behaving like motorcyclists is no surprise to me. But I have more empathy for the cyclists because biking may just be a recreational activity for most cyclists. There is no formal channel for them to be fully aware of the rules and regulations. At least bikes don't make noises and pollution like motorcycles.

July 21, 2009 mhuang_tpe@

Some of the cyclists even ride in the middle of the road. They behave as if they have the cyclist's right of the road. As for the motorcyclists they are down to earth selfish, just park anywhere and anyhow on the road without any consideration for others. Can the government do anything about it?

July 21, 2009 dancingrabbits@

It seems to me that people who use bikes for transportation are doing a service to society by not burning fossil fuels and by staying healthy and keeping health insurance costs down.

Unfortunately Taipei city government only builds bike paths for recreational use, like those along the rivers. These are not practical for transportation. There is no legitimate place for a bicycle to be on Taipei streets, because the sidewalks are occupied with pedestrians and vendors, while the streets are ruled by motor vehicles. Taipei needs bike lanes that make biking a viable mode of transportation.

July 24, 2009 taipeibiking@

There should be a consolidation of bike riders concerns, recreational and also commuters. A petition to the government or even a protest march, or going with a huge number of bikers over a bridge to make the point that the road is also for bikers and that the roads don't provide bike lanes. There are just too many infrastructure and behavioral issues to resolve before bike commuting will become a realistic option in Taipei/Taiwan. The government just does not listen to all the blogs and voices from the bike commuting population. dancingrbiit said it well, the government perception is that biking is for tourism only and spend tax money there, but they don't pay attention to enable biking for Taiwan's own citizens. This is the key misconception. Check more here:
http://taipeibikecommuting.blogspot.com/

July 25, 2009 mtsai16@

dancingrabbits@ wrote:
It seems to me that people who use bikes for transportation are doing a service to society by not burning fossil fuels and by staying healthy and keeping health insurance costs down.

Unfortunately Taipei city government only builds bike paths for recreational use, like those along the rivers. These are not practical for transportation. There is no legitimate place for a bicycle to be on Taipei streets, because the sidewalks are occupied with pedestrians and vendors, while the streets are ruled by motor vehicles. Taipei needs bike lanes that make biking a viable mode of transportation.

Well said!

Many foreign cities already have bike lanes running parallel to streets.

It is unlikely that Taiwanese government officials have not noticed this civic-minded wonder during their trips abroad, especially in Japan, North American and Western Europe.

I'm reminded of the following saying: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him/it drink." In this particular case, people of Taiwanese would reap many rewards if they make sure that the horse does drink!

July 28, 2009 iwannawork@

Totally agree. Unfortunately even if bike lanes were created on major streets, I believe cars and scooters would be in them. Drivers and scooter riders don't follow many traffic laws now. Why should they care if a line is painted on the ground to designate a bike lane? The police either don't care or can't do anything about it.

August 1, 2009 Ed.Greshko@

mtsai16@ wrote:
Well said!

Many foreign cities already have bike lanes running parallel to streets.

It is unlikely that Taiwanese government officials have not noticed this civic-minded wonder during their trips abroad, especially in Japan, North American and Western Europe.

I'm reminded of the following saying: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him/it drink." In this particular case, people of Taiwanese would reap many rewards if they make sure that the horse does drink!

Here are some bike lane photos taken in one hour on 8/1. http://tinyurl.com/l38tae The "best" part is all the taxis lined up waiting for fares.

August 2, 2009 ludahai_twn@

Much of Taiyuan Road in Taichung has a bike lane along side the road. It is common to see cars parked in it or scooters riding in it. Physically separated bike lines, like the one that exists on a short stretch of Liuchuan East Road, is the only safe solution for cyclists until a culture of obeying the rules of the road is brought about by stiffer enforcement. I know, I know ... wishful thinking...

August 8, 2009 kitt75@

Cyclists have no common sense and do not obey the laws. The motorcycle lane in San Jhih, for example, is NOT the bicycle lane. You have to share, which means riding in a single line. NOT talking to your friends while riding. Also, bicyclists are supposed to STOP at red lights.