YouBike: Implementing Taiwanese Bikeshare Models for the US Market

In the streets of Taipei, bright yellow and orange bicycles dot the street corners. These are YouBikes, colorful vehicles of a public bike sharing system that make up part of the public transportation in many major Taiwanese cities. These bikes are widely used by residents of Taipei, contributing to significant public health and environmental benefits. 

The US should establish a bikeshare system modeled after Taiwan’s YouBike in major cities, such as Denver and Dallas, to bring these benefits home to Americans and facilitate both a healthier citizenry and the green energy transition. A convenient bikeshare system alleviates traffic congestion, lowers health risks, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and more. 

Bikeshare programs have been successful worldwide, reaching around 3,000 cities by 2024. According to a University of Maryland study, these systems can alleviate traffic congestion by up to 4%. They also provide tangible health and environmental benefits to the residents of their cities. The physical activity encouraged by bikeshare programs can also lower rates of cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. These health benefits simultaneously reduce pressure on the healthcare system and lower associated costs. The environmental advantages of biking are also certainly no secret. According to a 2020 study, YouBike alone is estimated to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by up to 33,000 tonnes per year as users switch from gas-powered vehicles to bicycle transportation. 

The Taiwanese model in particular should be observed for its success in building loyal ridership. Its popularity stems from the convenience of riding and parking the bicycles, which requires an extensive network of both bikes and associated parking docks. In Taipei alone, YouBike operates over 1,600 docks and 23,860 bikes. 

Another crucial factor in the widespread usage of YouBike is its pricing model, which offers users the first 30 minutes of any ride free. Since introducing the first half hour as free in 2024, YouBike’s daily average ridership in Taipei has increased by 53% to around 200,000 daily rides. YouBike also surpassed 400 million rides in the summer of 2024, exemplifying its success in establishing a consistent user base. The Taiwanese Department of Transportation found that 25% of Taipei residents have reduced their car or scooter usage due to the availability and convenience of YouBike.

In a city like Taipei, you can travel nearly anywhere you want to go in 30 minutes, which raises questions as to YouBike’s profitability with their “first 30 minutes free” program. YouBike operates as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), in which Giant Bicycles, the manufacturer that partnered with the Taiwanese government to create YouBike, is responsible for manufacturing the bikes, maintaining them, and ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly. Local Taiwanese governments fund this process and retain ownership of all bikes and parking docks. Then, once YouBike’s annual revenue reaches the threshold of 70 million New Taiwan Dollars (2.3 million USD), it must pay 15% of its annual operating revenue back to the city government. 

Unfortunately, bikeshare programs have seen limited success in the US, largely due to car-centric infrastructure and a lack of adequate funding from the government. The world’s most successful bikeshare programs, including YouBike, all receive government subsidies. One major example is Vélib in Paris, which sources only about 30% to 40% of funding from subscriptions and relies on government subsidies for the remainder. 

In order for a bikeshare program to be successful in the US, integration of bikes into the public transportation system is also essential. Placing docks near major transit hubs, such as subway or bus stops, allows users to incorporate the bikes into their daily commute. In Taipei, for example, around 27% of YouBike trips involve a transfer to or from the subway. In addition to physical integration, digital integration is demonstrably crucial. This process involves creating online platforms for users to view the locations of docks, the availability of bikes at each, and more. In the case of YouBike, all of the aforementioned components can be tracked, making it seamless to take out and return a bike and ensure there is a free dock where one wishes to return it. 

Implementation of a bikeshare system in the US modeled after Taiwan’s YouBike is no small task. The substantial health and environmental benefits discussed above will only be realized through significant investment in both the program itself and the necessary supporting infrastructure, including widespread bike lanes. Until US city governments are ready to move away from a car-centric lifestyle, undertake large-scale projects to develop new bike paths, and invest in a network of docks and bicycles, such a program is unlikely to see implementation. While acknowledging that this required development of infrastructure poses a significant challenge, I maintain that the investment will bring newfound convenience, health, and happiness to American commuters while accelerating a nationwide green energy transition. 

Photo Credit

Po-Hsuan Huang, Unsplash License, via Unsplash