Self-Service Bike Rental in Taipei

Find out how to use the public bicycle rental system in Taipei...

Taipei has a self-service public bicycle rental system, YouBike, which provides an ecological way of getting around the city. The service was launched by the Taipei City Department of Transportation in partnership with Giant Bicycles in 2009. It aims to reduce traffic congestion by providing a short-distance transportation option linked to the city’s MRT metro stations, and to improve facilities for sightseeing and tourism in the city.

There are currently around 40 YouBike stops at stations along the MRT’s Bannan, Wenhu and Luzhou lines with a fleet of over 1,400 bikes. The Department of Transportation aims to increase the service to 173 rental stations and 5,850 bikes throughout the city by July 2014.

How to Register with YouBike

Bicycles are available to either YouBike members or single rental users. An EasyCard is required to become a member, and acts as both a payment and membership card. Single rental users can pay at a YouBike rental station kiosk using one of the following methods:

  • EasyCard
  • Credit Card
  • Cell phone (with a Chunghwa Telecom SIM card)

It is possible to register as a member at any rental station kiosk, on the YouBike website or at one of the two YouBike Service Centres:

  • MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station No.5 Exit
    At: Floor B1 ,No.67, Sec. 1, Xinsheng S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City
    Tel: 1999
    Open: 08:00- 20:00 every day
  • MRT City Hall Station No.3 Exit
    At: 2 Songren Road Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
    Tel: 02 8780 8773
    Open: 08:00- 20:00 every day

Using the Bicycles

The bicycles are designed to be used by people over 140cms tall. The service is available 24 hours a day and the first thirty minutes are free for members until the end of December, 2013.

An automated electronic management system is used for the YouBike service, enabling riders to rent at one point and drop-off at another.

To rent a bike members need to place their EasyCard on the sensor on the control panel, wait for the “Take” green light to flash and then remove the bike from the dock. Single rental users need to first pre-authorise their chosen payment method at a kiosk or Service Centre before a bike can be removed.

To return a bike place the bike into an unoccupied parking slot, wait for the “Place Your Card” green light to flash and the control panel will show the fee deducted from the EasyCard or credit card. Single rental users paying by cell phone will receive a text message with details of the fee charged.

Availability

It is possible to check on the availability of bikes at any of the YouBike stations online, or by pressing “Inquiry about Stations” at any of the kiosks.

  • For real-time information about the number of bikes and parking spaces available at YouBike stations: Click here