First Gathering of 5000 Folding Bike Owners in Kaohsiung / 全台首次摺疊車大集合 魅力亮相
First Gathering of 5000 Folding Bike Owners in Kaohsiung
◎Text by Yi-Chun Lin
◎Photos by Chia-Tse Kao and Chung-Hui Pao
On August 2, 2008, Kaohsiung City Government's Information Office hosted "Taiwan's Mass Gathering of Folding Bikes 2008- Give a Salute to the Foldies" . The participants travelled from all over Taiwan and used only public transportation to get to the meeting point. This folding bike, cycling event convened in Central Park and was the first of its kind in Taiwan.
Kaohsiung City Council have been in charge of creating Kaohsiung's bike paths and hope residents will start combining cycling and the MRT as their main modes of transportation. Nicknamed "Foldies", folding bicycles have become very popular, due to their convenient size and compactness. They are particularly convenient for urban commuters as they are easy to bring on all types of transportation, including the MRT and the bus. Foldies have become a popular way to commute to work or get around town.
During the event the participants gathered to read aloud the "Salute to the Foldies" . The following declaration was spoken in unison by all the participants: "My foldy and I are united as we travel around, to mountains and the sea, chasing the wind and tides. My foldy and I will not waste energy; we will shed sweat, but not emit CO . By folding, unfolding, moving and rolling, I promise the earth I will use my foldy and my own strength wherever we go."
The two routes included a mountain route and a seaside route. The routes were led by Deputy Mayor Ren-Yi Lin and ex-deputy mayor Tai-san Chiu. The cyclists had the opportunity to see some of Kaohsiung's most beautiful sightseeing spots such as Pier 12, Gushan Ferry Station, Seaside Park and Shinkuan Water Park. The mountain route included attractions such as Sizihway Bay, Chai Shan, Martyrs Shrine, Shoushan Zoo and The Kaohsiung Music Center. When participants got tired, there were a variety of riverside cafes by the Love River or fresh seafood restaurants on Cijin Island.
The participants were excited to have the opportunity to combine tourism, recreation and exercise. There were a variety of interesting cyclists who attended the event. Some cyclists gathered in Central Park, very very early in the morning. There were cycling groups from Northern and Central Taiwan who had come down the night before. Some even dressed up in costumes. Some couples came to cycle together and credited the social network "Foldies Family"for bringing them together. One family of four came as real "Foldie Family" . The event lasted over 4 hours and came to an official end at 7 pm that evening.
The Ex-Deputy Mayor Tai-San Chiu commented "Cycling is truly an energy-saving sport." Kaohsiung City has already developed seven separate bike paths which together amount to 115 kilometers. The City Council will meet the target of 150 kilometers of bike paths by the end of the year. This network brings together the beautiful scenery of the mountains, sea, Love River and Kaohsiung's harbor. The goal of the event wasn't only to promote cutting CO emissions, but also to encourage people to get out and cycle more. Kaohsiung City sincerely welcomes cyclists to come to Kaohsiung.
全台首次摺疊車大集合 魅力亮相
──5000名車友齊聚高雄向小摺致敬！
◎文／無明
◎攝影／高嘉澤．鮑忠暉
來自全國各地的5000名小摺車友，８月２日搭乘高鐵、火車，在轉乘捷運到高雄，齊聚中央公園，參加全台首次，也是全球僅見的「全台摺疊車大集合─2008向小摺致敬」活動。
高雄市政府建構自行車道，更全力推動騎自行車搭捷運，精巧、方便攜帶的收疊式自行車因此大受歡迎，因此被暱稱為「小摺」，小尺寸的摺疊車相當適合都市人騎乘，不管轉乘任何交通工具都很方便，所以現在小摺已經成為一種生活方式及一種旅遊型態。因此，高雄市政府新聞處精心規劃這場活動。
８月２日那天，來自全台的小摺車友們齊聲宣讀「向小摺致敬」宣言：「我，與我的小摺，車不離身，人車一體，上山下海，追風踏浪，我，騎著我的小摺，甩油不耗油，流汗不排碳，收、展、動、轉，我向地球承諾，無論任何地方，我將善用我的小摺，發揮自己的力量」。
活動分山線和海線，在高雄市副市長邱太三、林仁益等人的帶領下，小摺車友們踏著風火輪浩浩蕩蕩地出發，不論是海線的真愛碼頭、鼓山渡輪站、海岸公園、星光公園，還是山線的自西子灣、柴山、忠烈祠、動物園、音樂館，山、海、河、港的美麗風景盡收眼底。騎累了，愛河沿線輕啜一口咖啡，或是到旗津大啖生猛海鮮，體驗兼具觀光、休閒、健身的自行車樂趣。
「向小摺致敬」活動吸引全台各地車友共襄盛舉，有的一早即進入集結點中央公園報到，有的三五成群漏夜自北部、中部南下，有的更為心愛的「小摺」精心裝扮造型。有因小摺家族部落格而結緣的情侶檔，一起南下追風，還有一家四口都是小摺迷，是名符其實的「小摺」家族。「2008向小摺致敬－全台摺疊車大集合」活動長達四小時至晚間七時結束。
本身是自行車迷的前副市長邱太三說，自行車已是節能新時尚的全民運動，高雄市已有７個自行車道系統，完成115公里的自行車道，預計年底可以達到150公里，綿密完美的路網串聯起高雄的山、海、河、港之美，舉辦「小摺」大會師不僅是響應節省減碳，也鼓勵大家多多騎乘單車，歡迎更多的車友一起到高雄享受單車假期。