The little green man has switched to cycling！ Yanshui now has Taiwan’s first “bicycle-only traffic signal”

▲The little green man isn’t just for walking anymore—he’s cycling too！ (Photo provided by Tainan City Transportation Bureau)

Reported by Tsai Wen-jun / Compiled by staff

Cycling has become increasingly popular in Taiwan, with bike lanes stretching across both major cities and small towns, allowing cyclists to avoid competing with pedestrians and vehicles for road space. In a move to enhance cyclist safety, the Tainan City Transportation Bureau has set up Taiwan’s first “bicycle-only traffic signal” in Yanshui, giving cyclists a safer ride.

The Tainan City Transportation Bureau explained that the “bicycle-only traffic signal” is based on the design of the little green man, adapted to show the figure riding a bicycle—making it instantly understandable. The LED signal face uses a red light to indicate “bicycles must stop and wait” and a green light to indicate “bicycles may proceed,” and is mounted above the pedestrian signal to inform both pedestrians and cyclists when to stop or go according to the traffic control signals.

Tainan’s first “bicycle-only traffic signal” is located at the intersection of Yanshui’s Changrong Road. The bureau noted that this spot is a key section along the new bike lane, and due to the particularly complex traffic conditions at Changrong Road, it was selected as the priority location for installation. Future plans include expanding the setup to other intersections based on its effectiveness.