TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City and Taoyuan City announced Tuesday (Dec. 2) that public bicycle users must sign up for injury insurance before renting a YouBike starting next year. The policy responds to a recent accident involving a 74-year-old woman struck by a scooter while riding a YouBike across a crosswalk in New Taipei City. Officials aim to enhance user safety through the new insurance requirement.
The policy has drawn mixed reactions from the public. Some residents were unaware but willing to comply, while others had already noticed information on the streets and completed their insurance registration. The process is straightforward, requiring users to input personal information online or via a mobile app for immediate coverage.
Wu Cheng-yen (吳政諺), a senior technical specialist at the New Taipei City Transportation Department (交通局), Taiwan's municipal transport agency, assured that foreign users could register using their residence permit or passport number. The system will automatically adjust the interface language according to the phone's settings, making it accessible to international users. This feature ensures foreigners can easily comply with the new insurance requirement.
New Taipei City implemented a policy last year requiring YouBike users to complete an insurance willingness survey before renting YouBike's electric bicycles. The public bicycle injury insurance coverage rate has also increased from 64% to 96%. New Taipei City recorded approximately 70 insurance claims from July last year to June this year, marking a 62% increase from the previous year's 43 cases. Taipei City has an 80% insurance coverage rate. Hsieh Ming-hung (謝銘鴻), director of Taipei's Department of Transportation (交通局), mentioned they might implement a similar measure once data is fully analyzed.
