Keelung Mayoral Candidate Proposes Shared Bicycle System for Tourism and Commuting

Johnny Chi-wei, a candidate for mayor of Keelung, has announced a policy proposal to implement a shared bicycle system, aiming to boost the city's tourism and improve daily commutes. He envisions creating distinct "riverbank x coast tourism routes" and a comprehensive "city commuting network" to make cycling an integral part of Keelung's urban fabric.

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Keelung is the only city in northern Taiwan that has not yet introduced a shared bicycle system.

Chi-wei noted that Keelung is the only city in northern Taiwan without a shared bicycle system, a fact that surprised many he spoke with during his campaign visits. He believes that in an era focused on carbon neutrality, healthy cities, and slow travel, Keelung's unique mountainous and coastal landscapes are ideal for developing a dedicated cycling network.

The proposed "coast tourism line" would establish a trial route from "Keelung North Station - Wai-mu Mountain," connecting the station, the western port area, the Liulangtou commercial district, and the Wai-mu Mountain coastal corridor. This would allow visitors and residents to rent bicycles upon arrival at Keelung Station and explore the scenic coastal area, thereby stimulating tourism in the western and Zhongshan districts.

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In the context of net-zero carbon emissions, healthy cities, and slow travel trends, Keelung has unique advantages in its mountainous and coastal scenery and should establish its own bicycle network.

Additionally, the "riverbank mountain city tourism line" would link the Keelung River cycling paths, extending from Qidu and Nuannuan to Ruifang and Jiufen. Chi-wei pointed to existing trails and cycling paths along the river in Qidu and Nuannuan, noting their potential to connect with networks in Ruifang and further south to Beiwudu and Xizhi.

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We will promote the 'riverbank x coast tourism dual lines' to combine bicycle sharing with tourism development and urban characteristics.

A significant challenge for implementing such a system in Keelung is its hilly terrain. Chi-wei plans to address this by focusing on electric-assist bicycles, making them accessible for students, commuters, and tourists. Priority will be given to placing these stations at public transport transfer points, such as bus and train stations, to encourage widespread adoption.

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The biggest challenge to introducing a shared bicycle system is Keelung's slope. Therefore, we will focus on electric-assist bicycles in the future.