Workers have begun distributing electric YouBikes (e-bikes) around greater Taipei, with their electric-assist function limited at 20kph for pedestrian safety, officials said on Friday.
The e-bike has a battery and motor system to augment human power when needed, such as when going uphill or moving into headwinds, they said.
Meanwhile, electric kick scooters (e-scooters) are still not allowed on the road, as no local government has road permits for their use, they added.
Photo: Tung Kuan-yi, Taipei Times
Under Article 69 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), an e-bike is defined as an “electric power-auxiliary bicycle” — a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered mainly by a person and provides electric assistance with a maximum speed of up to 25kph and weighs 40kg or less.
Meanwhile, e-scooters are described as “mini electric two-wheel vehicles” — a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered mainly by electricity, with a maximum speed of up to 25kph and which weighs 40kg without a battery or 60kg with a battery.
There is still no agreed-upon standard for testing e-scooters and setting their maximum velocity, Taipei Department of Transportation’s Transportation Management Section head Chu Cheng-tso (朱宸佐) said, adding that some have been found to go too fast and are therefore prohibited on roads and sidewalks, to keep pedestrians, drivers and riders themselves safe.
The law requires local governments to designate roads and walkways that are open for e-scooters, with limitations on time periods and maximum speeds, among other regulations, but no local authorities have done so yet, Chu said.
Those found riding an e-scooter in a public space would be subject to a fine of NT$1,200 to NT$3,600, Chu added.
Taipei traffic police officials reported 436 incidents of people illegally riding “mini electric two-wheel vehicles” on roads from January to last month.
Of those vehicles, 19 were involved in traffic incidents, which resulted in 15 injuries, traffic police added.
E-scooters can only be driven on private sites and special designated zones, such as at Kaohsiung Harbor’s Pier-2 Art Center and on the campus of several universities, as these areas have a speed limit of 15kph and are fenced off from other road vehicles, officials said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated