TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A new YouBike penalty points system will be introduced in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan in July, while Taipei users must register for injury insurance.
Given an increase in bicycle accidents in recent years, the transportation departments of Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taoyuan City reviewed the penalty points system launched 10 years ago. The new system, which can impose suspensions of up to two years, is set to be implemented on July 1, reported PTS News.
The Taipei City Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday (May 21) that if users break any one of eight rules while riding in Taipei, New Taipei, or Taoyuan, they will be given points.
Examples include running a red light, cycling the wrong way, not yielding to pedestrians, riding on covered sidewalks, carrying a passenger, using a mobile phone while cycling, and other violations reported by the police or authorities. Each violation will incur one point.
If a YouBike rider accumulates three points within one year, they will be suspended for 14 days, while accumulating seven points will result in a one-year suspension. YouBike cyclists reported by the police for riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs will receive a two-year suspension.
The Taipei City Government Department of Transportation proposed a penalty points system in 2014, but due to differing regulations across counties and their exclusion from the YouBike usage terms, enforcement was difficult, resulting in only four riders receiving suspensions.
The new regulations reference the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). In addition to the penalty points, riding on sidewalks or in fast traffic lanes using a mobile phone while riding, will incur fines ranging from NT$300 to NT$1,200.
If a YouBiker commits a violation, the Department of Transportation will notify the YouBike Company to implement the penalty points and inform the i dividual via message. If there are any objections, the user can appeal to the Department of Transportation within seven days.
The points will be automatically cleared from the user's account after one year.
On May 15, Taipei's Department of Transportation said that starting from July 1, individuals must register as members through the YouBike website or app on Google Play or Apple and apply for free bicycle injury insurance. Those who do not obtain bicycle injury insurance will be unable to rent YouBike 2.0E bikes.