Gearing up: how Taipei's bike-sharing program is transforming citizens' commute

Taipei's YouBike program nearly collapsed four years ago. It now thrives after a much-needed upgrade made the bikes better and cheaper to rent

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taipei's rental bikes are hard to miss. The Taiwanese capital has 7,264 of them, and their distinctive orange frames, yellow fenders and smiley face logo are nearly as common in some parts of town as the city's ubiquitous motor scooters. Last year, the city's bike rental program logged more than 20m trips, a stunning figure that becomes slightly less surprising when one considers that the bikes rent for as little as $0.15 per half hour from 222 self-service, card-activated storage lots.

Related: Return of the Bicycle Kingdom? How pavement cycling is transforming Taipei