{"id":4407,"date":"2010-11-09T14:55:51","date_gmt":"2010-11-09T18:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/?p=4407"},"modified":"2010-11-11T14:11:42","modified_gmt":"2010-11-11T18:11:42","slug":"taiwan-cycling-festival-cycling-infrastructure-improvements-in-taitung-and-hualien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/2010\/11\/09\/taiwan-cycling-festival-cycling-infrastructure-improvements-in-taitung-and-hualien\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan Cycling Festival: Cycling Infrastructure Improvements in Taitung and Hualien"},"content":{"rendered":"

[This is intended as a companion piece to this post about the kickoff of the 2010 Taiwan Cycling Festival<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) are in the midst of expending a 4-year\u00c2\u00a0(2009 to 2012)\u00c2\u00a0US$25 million budget for the “Bicycle Network Demonstration of the Eastern Region” project. \u00c2\u00a0These projects are designed, in the words of the MOTC, to:<\/p>\n

[E]stablish a bicycle network in the eastern region and to implement the seamless integration of the railway-bicycle combination transits to connect scenic, recreational, ecological and cultural sites as part of the blueprint for the bicycle network in the eastern region.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To this end, the MOTC – in cooperation with other federal agencies and the local Hualien and Taitung governments – have already completed a number of cycling infrastructure improvements.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bicycle Facilities Construction and Improvements<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The MOTC have have aimed their efforts at making the Hualien-Taitung bicycle routes a “bicycle riding paradise.” \u00c2\u00a0In 2009, a total of 174 km of paths or on-road facilities were constructed or improved (including the introduction of of slow lanes within the provincial highway system to integrate bicycle lanes). \u00c2\u00a0This resulted in a regional of total of 578 km of networked roads that incorporated cycling facilities. \u00c2\u00a0According to the MOTC, 2010 \u00c2\u00a0will be 250 km of bicycle paths and, with assistance from local governments, another 89 km of on-road improvements. \u00c2\u00a0By the end of 2010, there should be a total 917 km of cycling facilities\/improvements in the region. \u00c2\u00a0These include improvements on the existing routes of Provincial Highways No. 2, No. 9, No. 8, No. 9C, No. 7, No. 7C, and other minor connecting roads.<\/p>\n

Bicycle Facilities Design Guidelines <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

To ensure that all this work results in a safe and useable bicycle network, the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bicycle Path System Plan Reference Manual (2st Ed.)” has been completed, and is available here<\/a> (in Mandarin). \u00c2\u00a0In addition, a safety manual aimed at riders – the “Bicycle Riding Safety Manual” – \u00c2\u00a0is available for download. \u00c2\u00a0While I’ve been told that an English-language version of the linked site is forthcoming, I’m not sure that English-language editions of either of these publications are planned.<\/p>\n

Hualien’s Bicycle-on-Bus Service<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In 2009, Hualien implemented a bike-on-bus project, providing racks on the front of its municipal buses. \"\" I’m unclear as to whether the rollout was limited to particular routes (I suspect it was). \u00c2\u00a0They appear to be your standard quick on\/off racks found in many countries.<\/p>\n

Railway Integration<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

\n<\/em><\/div>\n
The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) is integrating bicycling into its regional services, with the goal of carrying people and their bicycles in the same railcar. \u00c2\u00a0Initiatives include:<\/div>\n