How this page worksEach topic separates what the law says (with the article, linked to the official law database) from what we recommend. Fines are as written in the law in force on November 4, 2026.
The rules that catch visitors out
Bicycles are slow vehicles
The lawIn Taiwan law a bicycle is a slow vehicle (慢車). The 'bicycle' class has three types: pedal bicycles, electric-assist bicycles (pedal power first, motor assist, top speed 25 km/h or less, 40 kg or less) and micro electric two-wheelers (motor first, 25 km/h or less). Each type has its own rules below.
Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 69
Our adviceKnow which type you ride. A rental e-bike is usually an electric-assist bicycle, not a micro electric two-wheeler, but check.
Where to ride on the road
The lawRide in the marked slow lane where there is one. Where there is none, keep to the right side of the road. Do not ride in the fast (motor) lanes or against the direction of travel in a slow lane.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 124; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 73; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 74
Our adviceRide predictably in a straight line and leave room for opening car doors.
Sidewalks and arcades
The lawBicycles may not be ridden on sidewalks. In the Act, 'sidewalk' includes arcades (騎樓) and covered walkways. The exception is a sidewalk (not an arcade) signed or marked for bicycles, such as the 'pedestrians and bicycles' sign (遵22-1); there, pedestrians have priority.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200 (Art. 74, para. 1, item 5; also item 8 for not giving pedestrians priority on a signed sidewalk)
Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 74; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 3; Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 124-1
Our adviceWhere a sidewalk is open to bikes, ride at walking-friendly speed and be ready to stop. In arcades, get off and push.
Zebra crossings
The lawZebra crossings are for pedestrians. Official guidance from the Ministry of Labor's Workforce Development Agency (2026) says cyclists should get off and push across, and lists a fine of NT$300 to NT$1,200 for riding on sidewalks or crossings. The Act also fines cyclists who do not give way to pedestrians on a crossing or when turning.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200 (not giving way: Art. 74, para. 1, item 7). Not stopping for a visually impaired person with a white cane or guide dog: NT$600 to NT$1,200.
The Act does not define a specific article for 'riding on a zebra crossing'; the fine range above is how official guidance presents it.
Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 74; Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 126
Our adviceDismount and walk across. It is also the only way to use a crossing without forcing walkers to dodge you.
Lights, signs and signals
The lawObey traffic lights, signs, markings and police directions, and give way to emergency vehicles with sirens.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200
Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 74; Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 124; Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 129
Our adviceTreat red lights as red, even on an empty street.
Two-stage left turns
The lawWhere a 'two-stage turn for scooters and slow vehicles' sign (遵20) is posted, bicycles must turn left (or right) in two stages: ride straight across on green into the waiting box (待轉區) on the far side, then go when the cross-street light turns green. Without signs, if you are in the right-hand lane or slow lane of a one-way road with two or more lanes, the rules also require a two-stage left turn. Bicycles may not turn left where a traffic island separates directions or fast and slow lanes.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200 (Art. 73, para. 1, item 3: turning not as required)
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 125; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 73; Rules on Road Traffic Signs, Markings and Signals, Articles 65 and 191
Our adviceEven where it is not required, a two-stage left turn is usually the calmer option on a busy road.
Lights at night
The lawLights must be on when riding at night. Bikes must also keep brakes, bell, lights and reflectors complete and working.
Fine: Riding at night without lights: NT$300 to NT$1,200 (rider). Missing or faulty brakes, bell, lights or reflectors: NT$300 to NT$1,200 (owner).
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 128; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 73; Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 119; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 72
Our adviceUse a white front light and a red rear light, and turn them on in tunnels and at dusk too.
Phones
The lawWhile moving, you may not hold a phone, computer or similar device to dial, talk, use data or do anything else that hinders safe riding.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 120; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 73
Our adviceMount the phone on the bars before you set off, or stop to check the map.
Drinking
The lawYou may not ride after drinking if your breath alcohol is 0.15 mg/L or more, or blood alcohol 0.03% or more. Riding over the limit, or on drugs, is fined and you are stopped from riding on the spot.
Fine: In force on 2026-11-04: NT$1,200 to NT$2,400; refusing the test NT$4,800. An amendment promulgated August 17, 2026 raises these to NT$2,400 to NT$12,000 and NT$24,000, but its start date has not yet been set by the Executive Yuan.
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 120; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 73
Our adviceDo not ride after drinking at all.
Passengers and children
The lawBicycles may not carry a passenger. The only exception: a rider aged 18 or over on an approved pedal or electric-assist bicycle may carry one child in an approved child seat: front seat for ages 1 to 4 and up to 15 kg, rear seat for ages 1 to 6 and up to 22 kg.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$600
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 122; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 76
Our adviceDo not ride two-up on a rental or a bike without a proper child seat.
Carrying loads
The lawLoads on a bicycle may not be higher than the rider's shoulders, heavier than 20 kg, stick out past the front wheel or more than 1 m behind, or be wider than the handlebars. No towing or holding on to other vehicles.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$600
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 122; Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 127; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 76
Our adviceUse racks and panniers rather than hanging bags from the bars.
Riding side by side
The lawThe rules prohibit jostling for position, racing side by side (並行競駛) and other dangerous riding. No article found says two riders may never ride next to each other, but you must keep right in the slow lane or at the road edge.
Fine: NT$300 to NT$1,200 (Art. 73, para. 1, item 4)
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 126; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 73
Our adviceRide single file on roads with traffic. YouBike's own riding tips also say not to ride side by side chatting.
Level crossings
The lawAt level crossings, stop when bells ring, lights flash or barriers come down; never overtake, turn or stop on the tracks.
Fine: NT$1,200 to NT$2,400
Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 130; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 75
Our adviceCross tracks at a right angle; wet rails are slippery.
Electric-assist bikes
The lawAn electric-assist bicycle must have passed type approval and carry the approval label before it may be ridden on the road. Unauthorized changes to the electronic controls or original specification are fined.
Fine: No label on an approved e-assist bike: NT$600 to NT$1,200. Unapproved e-assist bike on the road: confiscated. Tampering with controls: NT$3,600 to NT$7,200 (owner).
Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 69-1; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 71; Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 72
Our adviceIf you bring or rent an e-bike, check it has the Taiwan approval label.
Emergencies
| Number | For |
|---|---|
| 110 | Police: traffic incidents and crimes, 24 hours. |
| 119 | Fire and ambulance (emergency medical help), 24 hours. |
| 112 | Mobile emergency number when reception is poor and 110 or 119 cannot be reached. Works on a mobile phone with battery and network coverage, even without a SIM card. |
| 118 | Coast Guard: emergencies at sea or on the shore, 24 hours. |
| 1999 | City and county government hotlines for non-emergency matters such as complaints and enquiries. Outside the city, the number to dial differs; check the local government. |
For a non-urgent matter such as a theft discovered later, go to the nearest police station (派出所) or call 110 if you are unsure. For road hazards or broken bike-path facilities in a city, use the city's 1999 line.
When you call, say where you are (the road name, the nearest kilometer post or landmark, or share your location), what happened and how many people are hurt. If you don't speak Chinese, say "English" and stay on the line.
Check conditions before you go
- Typhoon news (Central Weather Administration): Check before riding whenever a typhoon is forecast or a warning is issued.
- Heat information (CWA): Heat alerts by area; plan early-morning rides on hot days.
- Heavy rain advisories (CWA): Heavy rain closes riverside parks and raises landslide risk on mountain roads.
- Taipei riverside gates and floods (Taipei Hydraulic Engineering Office): When a typhoon threatens Taipei, the city first puts riverside evacuation gates on 'exit only' (只出不進), then closes them; the closing time is decided by the Water Resources Agency's 10th River office (十河局). Do not ride into riverside parks once a typhoon warning is issued. The office also posts riverside bike path closures for works on its news page.
- Provincial highway road information (Highway Bureau): Road works and closures on provincial highways. The page could not be loaded for checking on November 4, 2026 (bot protection), so describe it only after a manual check.
No page on this site shows live closures. Paths and roads close for typhoons, heavy rain, earthquakes, works and events: check the official source on the day.
- Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act
- Road Traffic Safety Rules
- National Police Agency: riding on sidewalks
- Workforce Development Agency: road safety guidance (2026)
- Emergency numbers (gov.tw)
Checked November 2026 Laws are amended; next review February 2027.