A nationwide bike path network will be completed by the end of 2015, further reducing traffic-related pollution while boosting Taiwan’s tourism appeal.
Under the NT$1.2 billion (US$40.2 million) government-funded project, 60 in-place paths are to be linked. Comprising paths, provincial highways and rail connections, the network will enable cyclists to complete a round-island-tour of 1,000 kilometers in nine days.
“Since I took office in May 2008, Taiwan’s bikeways have grown from 720 kilometers to 4,017 kilometers, President Ma Ying-jeou said at a Ministry of Education-hosted meeting with the nation’s youth Aug. 31 in Taipei City. “I have instructed the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to prioritize mapping the network and promoting it abroad.”
Taiwan’s world-class reputation for cycle tourism is regularly touted abroad. In 2012, it made Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel: Top 10 Countries for Travel partly due to cycling-friendly infrastructure.
In addition, major bike routes such as the east coast, Hehuanshan and Sun Moon Lake routes in central Taiwan have garnered accolades from international media outlets and tourists alike.
