As 2024 comes to a close, to promote green transportation and boost local tourism, Taitung County has officially introduced the YouBike public bicycle system. The county aims to gradually establish 120 rental stations, offering 560 YouBike 2.0 bicycles and 560 YouBike 2.0E electric-assisted bicycles. These stations will be prioritized in densely populated areas such as Taitung City, Guanshan, Beinan, Luye, and Chishang, which are also key tourist destinations. This significant initiative is expected to reduce air pollution, contribute to energy conservation and carbon reduction goals, and propel Taitung toward sustainable development.
Magistrate April Yao emphasized that to align with global trends toward net-zero emissions, the Taitung County Government is accelerating the development and management of the public bicycle system, operated by the YouBike team. In the future, the county will continue to encourage residents to choose eco-friendly transportation for their daily commutes and attract more tourists to experience Taitung’s green tourism initiatives.
The Taitung County Environmental Protection Bureau highlighted that in response to modern technological demands and the growing popularity of green transport, establishing the YouBike 2.0 system is a significant step in supporting the county’s green transportation policy. This system includes yellow and white YouBike 2.0 bicycles and orange and white YouBike 2.0E electric bikes, both equipped with smart vehicle technology that offers convenient rental options such as electronic payment cards and mobile QR code scanning for quick borrowing and returning. The stations are designed with “non-electric lightweight docks,” allowing for faster and more flexible installations, even in smaller alleyways.
The initial focus for station setup will be in densely populated or high-traffic areas of Taitung City, ensuring coverage of both city transportation routes and major tourist attractions, as well as essential daily-use locations. By the end of this year, the goal is to have at least 10 rental stations and 100 bicycles available in Taitung City, with plans to expand to 86 stations and 800 bicycles next year. This public bike system will help promote low-carbon commuting and green tourism, supporting the vision of “slow economy, slow living, and slow culture” as Taitung moves towards becoming a green city.
