Eco-friendly and convenient: Chiayi City's public electric bicycles (E-bikes) hit the road on the 20th

▲Chiayi Mayor Tu Shing-che (right) and Chiayi City Council Speaker Hsiao Shu-li try out an electric scooter. (Photo / Provided by Chiayi City Government)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Traveling in Chiayi just got easier. To promote the concept of “green transportation,” the Chiayi City Government launchedE-Bike (public electric bicycle)rental system, currently with 11 rental stations. The system allows users to pick up bikes at one location and return them elsewhere. Chiayi Mayor Tu Shing-che noted that each station doubles as a battery exchange point, eliminating the need to wait for charging—faster even than refueling—making it easier for tourists to explore Chiayi City.

Tu Shing-che said there are currently about 180,000 motorcycles in Chiayi City. In the future, the city hopes to encourage “shared” electric motorcycles so households don’t need to buy their own vehicles, reducing private transport use. “You don’t have to buy a motorcycle, but you’ll always have access to one,” he explained. This will gradually reduce motorcycle usage, saving energy, cutting carbon emissions, and freeing up urban space.

Zheng Jun-jian, head of the Chiayi City Government’s Transportation and Tourism Department, said the E-Bike rental system is set up through the city government leasing public land. A one-year contract has been signed with Taiwan Urban Power Co., with the company funding and operating the service. By the end of December, 12 rental stations will be established, featuring electric scooters and electric bicycles.

Zheng added that the E-Bike rental system operates on a membership basis. Citizens aged 18 and over can complete authentication by uploading their driver’s license at any rental station or operations center. They can then use an EasyCard to pick up, return, and pay for bikes at rental stations. Next year, additional payment methods such as iPass will be added. The E-Bike rental system officially launched on the 20th at Cultural Park. Registering grants a NT$50 voucher and entry into a lucky draw, with the grand prize being lifetime free E-Bike rides.

E-Bike
Promotional rates during launch period: (Until February 5, 2016)
Electric scooters: NT$1 basic fee for first 10 minutes, then NT$1.5 per minute
Electric bicycles: NT$1 basic fee for first 10 minutes, then NT$1 per minute

Rates after promotional period ends:
Electric scooters: NT$15 basic fee for first 10 minutes, then NT$1.5 per minute
Electric bicycles: NT$10 for first 10 minutes, then NT$1 per minute

11 rental locations: Chiayi Railway Station, Chiayi Park Station, Hinoki Station, Fountain Station, Cultural Park Station, Chiayi Hospital Station, Carrefour Station, Mitsukoshi Far East Station, Xingye Xinmin Station, Xingye Wu Feng Station, Stadium Station

Rental requirements: Must be 18 or older, possess a driver’s license, and wear a helmet

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