Kaohsiung's Transformation into Taiwan's Leading Bicycle Friendly City 全台灣最友善的單車城市 高雄
Kaohsiung's Transformation into Taiwan's Leading Bicycle Friendly City
◎English Written by Lin Fang-ju
◎Photos by Pao Chung-hui
aohsiung City's has been very instrumental in promoting several types of environmentally friendly transportation. Nothing exemplifies this more than the 227 kilometers of bike paths that have been recently constructed. By end of this year, the city government plans to extend its bike path program to 250 kilometers throughout the city. It is believed this will transform Kaohsiung into Taiwan's leading bicycle friendly city. This great achievement is due to the city's comprehensive understanding and promotion of cycling. Kaohsiung also draws its inspiration from Kyoto, Jeju, Beijing and Singapore, previously featured on CNN's special report regarding the five best cycling cities in Asia.
Kaohsiung's bike paths are part of an integral and systematic plan, which has categorized them into recreational or commuter cycling routes. They have also been categorized in terms of area, including north, central, south, Da Ping Ding, and Cijin bike paths. In May 2010, The Executive Yuan evaluated Formosa Boulevard commuter path and the recreational Love River scenic path in a national evaluation of bike paths throughout Taiwan. They both received excellent evaluations and national recognition. It also concluded Kaohsiung had developed the most comprehensive cycling facilities in Taiwan.
Kaohsiung's bike paths feature easy access, convenience and Taiwan's first bicycle only bridge. Kaohsiung city has also established the "C-Bike", the city's first public bike rental program. This allows cyclists easy access to one of the 50 automated rental sites, set up near Kaohsiung MRT stations and tourist attractions around the city. There are 4,500 public bikes available, and bikes can be rented at one location and returned to another. In November, a specially designed recreational area will be opening on the banks of the Love River, at the intersection of Bo-ai Road and Tongmeng Road. This development honors the philosophy of developing a slower and well balanced lifestyle. The area is specially designed for cyclists to take a break and enjoy coffee or light meals. It also offers complimentary showers, bicycle cleaning facilities, repair kits and pumps. Kaohsiung will continue to upgrade its cycling infrastructure. It is hoped that cyclists from other countries will also continue to visit Kaohsiung. Cyclists from Hong Kong, Macao and Japan have all come and enjoyed bike paths all over Kaohsiung. Visitors continue to take advantage of the green public bikes.
Kaohsiung City continues to transform itself into a clean, Green and convenient city. It also intends to increase its sustainable development with modern recreational and hassle free cycling facilities. It is hoped that international cyclists will continue to come and enjoy Kaohsiung's world class bike paths.
全台灣最友善的單車城市 高雄
◎文／小波
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
高雄市提倡綠色運輸的態度和決心，在已建構的227公里自行車專用車道上展露無遺，至今年年底預計將建構超過250公里的自行車道路網，將高雄市打造成為全台灣最適合騎單車的城市。這樣的努力，日前讓高雄市與京都、濟洲、北京、新加坡等城市共同被國際媒體CNN評選為亞洲五大適合騎乘自行車城市，高雄市的勝出關鍵就是市府廣泛而全面地推動自行車相關政策。
經過系統性之整體規劃，高雄市政府將自行車道建設依運動休閒型及生活通勤型分類，再按北、中、南、大坪頂及旗津區分為六大系統，轄內完整的自行車路網，密度全國最高！今年五月高雄市政府參加行政院「99年度全國自行道系統建設評比」，以生活通勤型─「美麗島大道自行車道」及運動休閒型「愛河觀光自行車道」2條自行車道路線參加評審，榮獲全國優等成績。
高雄市的自行車道設計也讓車友感受到友善單車城市的魅力！蓮池潭跨越翠華路段，是全台第一座自行車專屬路橋，此外，高雄市還建構「C-Bike」系統，即高雄市公共自行車系統，遍布全市五十個站點共四千五百輛公共腳踏車，讓車友能在捷運站或是高雄市知名旅遊景點附近租借公共自行車，並且享有甲地租車、乙地還的便捷服務。市政府考量許多車友在騎乘單車後，可以稍歇喘口氣或沖個涼，享受輕食補充體力、喝杯咖啡，從11月中下旬起，設置於「愛河之心」(位於博愛路和同盟路交叉口)西側的多功能自行車休憩站將啟用，可更貼近車友的需求，讓民眾休憩空間更友善更人性化，亦符合現代人慢活、樂活的休閒哲學。休憩站設有簡易沐浴設備，屆時可提供單車清潔、DIY簡易維修器具、打氣設備等服務，期讓車友的單車之旅能滿意而歸。
在建構日趨完善的自行車硬體建設，吸引越來越多車友前來高雄市騎單車。高雄市的單車道中，愛河連接蓮池潭自行車道及行經真愛及光榮碼頭的西臨港線，最受港、澳、日本背包客的歡迎，在這邊您可以看到騎著綠色公共自行腳踏車的遊客，愜意地踏著單車穿梭在西臨港線的駁二藝術園區與大型公仔合照，這樣自在的氛圍吸引不少背包客專程來高雄體驗單車之旅。
高雄市藉由營造優質的自行車休閒遊憩空間，打造一個乾淨、舒適、便捷的永續綠活城市。