Taiwan is one of the largest urban markets for bicycles in the world, so it’s no surprise that they will be introducing a comprehensive bicycle tourism plan very soon. It will include bike rentals, special railway cars for bike riders, as well as guides for rides along the coastline or steep mountains. The new tourism project is being led by both the government and private companies. The program will allow tourist to rent their bikes at one location and drop them off at another location later on, the push into bicycle tourism is an attempt to help develop Taiwan’s growing tourism industry. The program will be featured at eight railway stations very soon as well to allow tourist to bring their bicycles with them while traveling around the island nation. You can rent or drop off bikes at these locations so you don’t have to bring the bicycle everywhere with you while touring other locations. Because of rising fuel prices many commuters have been forced to ride their bikes around Taiwan as opposed to driving making it a trend. As many Asia bound tourist pack their bags for destinations such as Thailand and Hong Kong, Taiwan wants to be the next hot tourist spot. I think this is a good move for them, it’s a different yet interesting way to see and experience a new country.

The Winterborne Bicycle Institute based out of Ontario, Canada has added more Pro Bike Mechanics classes from June 8-19. The popular course had a long waiting list and man students were eager to take the 11 day hands-on class that is held in a full shop and classroom at the Institute in Guelph. The Institute is the only one of its kind in Canada that helps aspiring bicycle mechanics.

“The manufacturing downturn is freeing up people with good mechanical skills and a strong work ethic,” said Jay Filer, WBI founder. “Some of these folks are keen cyclists and eager to retool themselves to work in bike shops. Given the shortage of good bike mechanics in the industry, this is an unexpected silver lining in these economic times.”

For more information on this exciting new course visit their website at www.WinterborneBikes.com

-Ray

Using a bicycle in a big city like New York is a very common, many people prefer to use a bike to commute around the city as opposed to sitting in rush hour traffic. It seems that Mayor Michael Bloomberg thinks otherwise, in his weekly radio program Mayor Bloomberg said he is against commuters taking their bicycles onto subway cars. It seems that allowing more people to ride their bikes and to bring them onto the subway would be a great way to help reduce traffic and congestion. Perhaps New York should designate a certain subway cart for commuters who have a bike with them to keep the other carts less crowded? This is awkward that Bloombery, who rides the subway often, would want to make it harder for bike riding New Yorkers. His administration has created bike lanes in the city and have installed special traffic lights with bicyclist in mind. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority allows riders to bring their bikes with them but the Mayor still opposes it saying:

“I know bicyclists will now ring the phones off the hook, but they are just too big, particularly at rush hour,” he said of the bikes. “I just don’t think they should allow it,” he added.

-Ray

[Source: The New York Times]