As Cyclelicious readers might have noticed, a few of us went to Taiwan to check out the cycling there.  And now we just can’t stop talking about it.  As one of my travelmates noted, the cycling itself is amazing, and we could (and I will) go on for days about it.  But what I can also go on about is what makes that possible – the underlying infrastructure that is critical to making any area cyclist-friendly.  Facilities like bike lanes and signage aren’t an automatic part of the transportation landscape – someone has to care enough to do it, and do it right.  So that’s why I was looking forward to the official kick-off of the 2010 Taiwan Cycling Festival.  Not only would I get a chance to chat with Taiwan’s top transportation and tourism officials, but I’d learn just how much they’re putting into making Taiwan a cyclist-friendly place.  As a result, I’ve got a short summary of the main projects being funded by a four-year US$25 million commitment from Taiwan’s government.  Future pieces will touch on how these efforts translate on the ground, but I think it’s worth checking out the goals that they’ve set for themselves.

TAIWAN, where I unexpectedly I got my cycling groove back!

That bicycles can be a means of bringing strangers together was never truer than on this trip. An unlikely rag-tag group of 5, plus our guide, spent 12 days touring this beautiful paradise. We went from clean bustling cities like Taipei, to rice field-lined bike paths in Hualien and Taitung on the east coast.  Join me on the other side of the jump to hear a little more about our trip.

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