Ah-Piao’s Experience: Night Cycling on a YouBike & the Mysterious “Him” Who Appeared Beside Me

▲Cycling around on a YouBike at night is a delightful experience. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government)

By Chen Rui-Zhong

For many people, riding a YouBike around Taipei for exercise or a leisurely ride is a perfect weekend or post-dinner activity. But have you ever wondered who exactly is cycling right beside you...?

Last month, taking advantage of the clear weather and cool evening, I arranged a mini urban cycling trip with two friends, forming a trio. We started from the Technology Building MRT Station, rode to Guting, then along the riverside to Dadaocheng Wharf. After looping back into the city for a late-night snack, we continued riding back to the Technology Building Station.

Although the route wasn’t particularly long, the three of us laughed and chatted along the way, occasionally stopping for snacks and drinks. By the time we headed back, it was almost midnight without us realizing. At that point, everyone fell silent, pedaling wearily as our legs grew heavier, just hoping to get home soon.

Just as our legs began to feel sore, we started chatting and encouraging one another to lift our spirits.

At that moment, Friend A casually remarked, “That guy’s bicycle earlier looked really strange—it must’ve been exhausting to ride!”

Friend B and I were completely baffled, having no idea what A was talking about.

Seeing our puzzled expressions, A added, “You know, the guy who was riding right next to us earlier. His bike had an enormous front wheel and a super tiny back wheel—it looked just like those old-fashioned bicycles from movies!”

▲In the history of bicycle evolution, the design with a large front wheel and small rear wheel emerged around 1870. (Photo from Wikipedia)

Hearing this, B and I were even more incredulous: “There was no one else cycling on the entire street earlier—there was no bike like the one you’re describing!” To confirm, I even turned around to look at the route we had just taken. The straight road was completely empty—no sign of any other bicycle behind us...

Although the streets of Taipei were brightly lit at night, the three of us couldn’t help but feel a sudden chill. We quickly agreed not to mention the incident again, silently hoping for a safe ride home.

Fortunately, all three of us made it home safely. After looking it up online, we discovered that this uniquely designed bicycle was a product from around 1870—it’s an early prototype of the modern bicycle. However, due to its awkward handling and danger, it’s mostly displayed as a historical artifact today and rarely used as actual transportation.

To this day, it remains a mystery who exactly A saw that night—and why “he” would choose to ride such a hazardous bicycle.