The Freeway Bureau warned drivers that there would likely be limited parking today at the Shiding Service Area along the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway (Freeway No. 5), as a group of maxi-scooter and heavy-motorcycle owners have announced plans to protest there.
Motorists should consider adjusting their travel plans, and keep informed about the parking situation at the rest stop, the bureau said in a statement.
Real-time information would be available on the Freeway 1968 traffic app, the public Police Radio Station, and message boards on the freeway, the bureau said.
Photo: Screen grab from the Poem of Bikers’ Facebook page
A Facebook group called “Poem of Bikers” recently invited its followers to participate in a protest at the service area today.
The group is demanding that the government allow heavy-motorcycle and maxi-scooter owners to use parking reserved for scooters, as parking in spots designated for cars and other larger vehicles is a waste of space, it wrote on Facebook.
In Taiwan, “large heavy-duty motorcycles,” defined as those having an engine displacement of 250 cubic centimeters or more, are restricted to parking in spaces reserved for cars or heavy motorcycles.
On Oct. 1, the group protested by having riders park their bikes at the Shiding Service Area, but police quickly dispatched officers to reserve some of the parking spaces for other vehicles.
In a change of tactics, the group said participants in today’s protest would use cars.
As of Friday evening, 174 people had accepted the invitation to participate in the event.
The Shiding Service Area has 140 parking spots for cars, which are often packed between 10am and 4pm on Sundays, the bureau said, asking motorists to make their stops as quickly as possible to allow others to use the service area.
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