Taichung’s i-Bike system set to launch mid-next year; bike rentals no longer limited to EasyCard

▲Following Pingtung, Taichung will also launch its public bicycle rental system, i-Bike, by mid-next year. The photo shows Taipei’s U-Bike. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The biking leisure trend is sweeping across Taiwan. Following Pingtung’s plan to introduce YouBike next year, Taichung City has now joined the movement, proposing to establish the “i-Bike” public bicycle rental system in major areas of Taichung by mid-next year. Unlike other systems, i-Bike will accept not only EasyCards but also Taiwan Cards, Kaohsiung MRT cards, and ETC cards for rentals.

Lin Liang-tai, Director of Taichung City’s Department of Transportation, stated that the department plans to allocate a budget of NT$100 million over two years to set up the i-Bike system. The initial rollout will focus on areas around Taiwan Boulevard, including the Taichung City Hall, Qiji Commercial District, Central and West Districts, Caotun Boulevard, Qiuhong Valley, and BRT rapid transit stations, with approximately 60 stations planned as priority trial zones, each equipped with 25 bicycles.

Unlike U-Bike, which restricts rentals to EasyCard users only, the upcoming i-Bike system in Taichung will be more flexible—accepting EasyCards, Taiwan Cards, Kaohsiung MRT cards, and ETC cards. Users will also be able to rent bikes at one station and return them at another. The tentative hourly rate is NT$20, but Lin Liang-tai mentioned they will apply to the Environmental Protection Administration for a subsidy to offer the first 30 minutes free of charge.