Cycling in Taipei

I live in Taipei and my bike is my primary transportation. I enjoy the convenience, cost, and health benefits. It's just not so good for driving your date home. Depending on where you're from, cycling (for transportation) in Taipei has its upsides and downsides. On one hand you have a large-scale public bike rental system, bike accessible roads/bridges, and good bike rack coverage.  On the other, you have bustling city traffic and bike lanes that come off as a city planning after thought. That is not to say the downside completely negates the city's efforts in pushing cycling as an alternative form of transportation, but cycling here does require a certain temperament for a reasonable level of chaos.  So whether you live here or are visiting, I encourage you to try it.

Buying a Bike
If you have your own bike, you're set. If not, get a Giant. They're local, well-priced and good quality.  Plus the dealers are everywhere.  I've been to the one on Nanjing East Road and the women's specific shop on Dunhua and both are quite nice and well stocked.

If you're on a budget, buy a used beater and ride it like you don't care.  I'm talking about one of these:

Check on www.kijiji.com.tw.  It's like craigslist.  Or look for the more old-school bike shops that are selling everything they fix up.

If you're about performance.  Specialized seems to have a pretty good presence and there are a bunch of other dealers that distribute a variety of other well-known brands. Prepare to pay a premium.  I don't usually have a need to go to a bike shop but I've been to Howard's before.  One of the employees there speaks English.  They're pricey on the imported stuff but I got a nice Serfas floor pump for 900NT, which is about right.

And if you like lugged italian frames or BMX they're well-represented here too.

Renting a Bike
For everyone that obtains a MRT (subway) card, the card's number can be registered on the youbike website and will afford them to rent a yellow 3-speed cruiser with basket, lights and integrated lock.  Just look around, you're bound to see them rolling along the road or sidewalk.

1. Check the youbike map and find where the stations are located, 
2. Swipe your card to take out a bike
3. Return it to another station and swipe your card again

Any associated fees will be deducted from your MRT card.  It's free for the first 30 minutes and 10NT (about 30 cents) for each additional half-hour.  You could technically ride from station to station, return your bike and take it back out again and not pay a dime.  I've found that the city is quite diligent in maintaining them and are pleasant enough to ride.

Alternatively, there are also mom and pop shops nearby all major recreational areas that rent bikes.  I haven't a need to try but it seems like pretty standard stuff, usually renting by the hour.

I have a bike.  Now what?
Start pedaling and just go.  Most roads are accessible to bikes with the exception of a few bridges and of course freeways.  Keep to the right and let traffic flow around you.  If it gets really hairy and the sidewalk is wide enough, take the sidewalk and be mindful of the pedestrians.  I'm in the midst of putting together a map that highlights what I believe are the more bike friendly roads.

The Regional Stuff
With any country, there are nuances with the culture that influence conventions and etiquette.  Common sense also goes a long way.  But some of the things I've noticed:

• The majority of cyclists do not wear helmets and don't get hassled by police.  I'm not sure what the exact law is, but if it exists, law enforcement does not enforce it.  I'm not one to tell people what to do, but when you don't wear a helmet you're basically trusting that everyone else is a good enough driver to not hit you.
• It's ok to ride your bike on the sidewalk.  But you shouldn't be trying to plow through, blowing up your bell on a sidewalk that is barely wide enough for 2 people let alone your bike.  Use your common sense as to whether you should be on the road or the sidewalk.  A good number of the dedicated bike lanes in Taipei are actually on the sidewalk.  Pedestrians use the bike lanes for walking too.  Don't get your feathers ruffled that they're in your lane.  They don't consider it only for bikes.  It's for walking until a bike comes along.  Even though it's not the safest or most convenient convention that's just the way it is and is not enforced otherwise.
• Bike theft happens but is less than that of other places.  Taiwan is a pretty safe place.  You don't have to fear walking down the streets late at night but opportunistic theft is still prevalent.  If something is easy to steal and no one's around to see, then it'll get stolen.  As long as you leave your bike in a public area with enough foot traffic and have enough security to defeat bolt cutters, then I would say you've deterred 99.9% of the people that would consider stealing your bike.  If you have a nice bike, keep it indoors overnight.

I'll keep adding stuff to this page as time goes on.  But those are my thoughts thus so far.