Linking bicycle paths to the nation's railways will boost Taiwan's image as a top bicycle manufacturer and cycling destination, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said today at an award ceremony hosted by the Taipei-based China Road Federation (CRF).
Echoing the ceremony's theme—green energy, low-carbon tourism—the premier plugged the 2015 Taiwan Cycling Festival (October 30 to November 22), saying that the combination of bicycle and train travel will cause more consumers to associate bicycles with the Made-in-Taiwan brand and cycling activities with the island.
Mao also mentioned the upcoming Taiwan King of the Mountain Challenge, a world-class cycling event that will take competitors on a steep 105-kilometer ride from Hualien's Qixing Lake (sea level) to Hehuan Mountain (3,275 meters altitude). One of the most unique mountain cycling routes in the world, this event is the result of hard work on everyone's part, he said.
The CRF, under its director Wu Men-feng, has organized many activities promoting road safety, the premier said. Aside from producing a video on school campus motorcycle safety, the federation also participated in cross-strait forums on road and transportation development.
This year, Taiwan received a Toll Excellence Award from the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association for successfully transitioning all freeways to electronic distance-based toll collection. The International Road Federation also bestowed Taiwan with a Global Road Achievement Award for the widening of National Freeway No. 1 from Wugu to Yangmei. The premier said these accolades represented international recognition for all the construction and transportation crews involved.
Premier Mao also touted Taiwan's achievements in transportation and road safety. The number of road accidents and fatalities continue to decline, service volume is climbing, and cargo and passenger transportation is expanding across all locales. The government is very pleased and will continue moving toward its targets, he said.
At today's ceremony, the CRF conferred awards for lifetime achievement, road development contributions, and outstanding research. The lifetime achievement award, presented for the first time, went to Chang Tung, a former consultant for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). Chang built his career in Taiwan's road infrastructure after moving to Taiwan in 1949. Over his seven decades of service, he worked as director of the highway bureau under the Taiwan Provincial Government (TPG), deputy director of the TPG transportation and communications department, and executive secretary cum consultant for the MOTC's National Road Traffic Safety Commission.