Attention YouBike users, get ready to ride for free. Starting next January, Taipei will bring back its policy of not charging for the first 30 minutes of a YouBike rental. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is also promising more bikes and smarter system management. Let’s hear from him.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
Our current plan is to slightly increase the number of bikes in the first half of the year by adding 1,780 units. After we reintroduce the policy of free rides for the first 30 minutes, we will of course introduce more effective bike management. To that end, we are already carrying out big data analyses. Turnover for each bike will increase, of course. But we hope that it will stay within the current values by optimizing the system. We’re planning to introduce complementary measures in the first half of next year, starting January. We’re making preparations for that.

The free rides are expected to increase YouBike usage, and that could cause a bike shortage in busy areas. But the mayor says that big data will be used to optimize the rental system, to ensure that supply keeps up with demand.

свернуть