| Content | As the saying goes, there are three things everyone in Taiwan must do during their lifetime: swim Sun Moon Lake, climb Yushan, and cycle around Taiwan. The number of cyclists in Taiwan has risen in recent years, but those thinking about cycling around Taiwan have to do a great deal of route research or join bicycle tours. From now on, anyone can complete the cycle journey around Taiwan successfully with just following the signs and markings of Cycling Route No. 1.
The main line is 968 kilometers long, while branch lines including Nantou and Dapeng Bay measure an additional 235 kilometers for a total network that is 1,203 kilometers long. The DGH oversaw 929 kilometers of the route.
The plans and designs of Cycling Route No.1 were under consideration of preferred cycling routes, road alignment, distance and maintenance. Therefore, over 80 percent of the route shares road space with provincial highways. In areas with high traffic, local cycling paths are connected. In addition, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications approved a pilot program of signs and markings for cycling routes April 2015 to ensure safety, user friendliness and continuity. Signs and markings have already been installed along the route, and service stations in every 15-20 kilometers have been also planned with signs listing services provided.
Although cycling around Taiwan is considered a “must-do” activity, it’s difficult to have 9 whole days break completing it for most people. Therefore, there are many branch routes designed to connect railway stations so that cyclists can complete their trips separately using the “TRA Bike Trains”.
More information is available at the official cycling around Taiwan website, itaiwanbike.iot.gov.tw. The service hotline can be reached at (02) 2547-5907 Mondays to Fridays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Questions and suggestions can also be directed to itaiwanbike.eeci@gmail.com.
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