Taiwan allocates US$184m for cycle paths

Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation has earmarked US$188.3 million over three years for improving the country’s cycle paths across the island.

Wang Kwo-tsai, the minister for transport, said the goal is to raise the profile of Taiwan as a leading country for cycling tourism.

Kwo-tsai  and other transport ministry officials along with cycling industry representatives went on a six-day round-the-island trip to obtain first-hand knowledge of the state of biking paths ahead of the new project’s implementation, according to a report in the Taipei Times newspaper.

Taiwan already has a major transnational cycle route, called Route 1 – nearly 1,000km long that was officially opened in December 2015 at a cost of around $36.4 million. The route consists of dedicated bicycle paths through the countryside, marked sections along less-travelled country roads and dedicated separate cycle paths along busy roads. Although the route may be started at any point, the first kilometre begins at Songshan Rail Station in Taipei City. The route has 122 rest-stops and takes on average 9 to 12 days to complete.