Taoyuan Metro is to permit full-sized bicycles to board at its airport-adjacent stations (A12, A13, and A14a) starting on Tuesday next week, providing a more convenient transit option for international and domestic cyclists, the company said yesterday.
With the inclusion of the Airport Terminal 1 (A12), Airport Terminal 2 (A13) and Airport Hotel (A14a) stations in its bicycle-friendly network, all 22 currently operational stations on the Taoyuan Airport MRT line would be fully accessible to cyclists, the company said in a news release.
Photo courtesy of Taoyuan Metro via CNA
The measure allows outbound travelers to wheel their bicycles directly to the terminal stations, where they can then follow Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and airline regulations to have their bicycles packaged and checked in as special baggage, it said.
Meanwhile, inbound travelers can assemble their bicycles on the spot after collecting them from the special baggage claim area, and wheel them directly through the airport onto the Airport MRT, it added.
Under current restrictions, passengers must fold or disassemble their bicycles and secure them in carrying bags before entering these three stations.
Passengers with bicycles must buy a dedicated ticket at the inquiry counter, which includes the standard distance-based fare plus a flat NT$50 surcharge, the company said.
Bicycles carried in a bag in folded or disassembled forms that meet the size requirements for carry-on items are free of charge, in line with the company’s rules.
Bicycles are allowed on commuter trains only — not express trains — through designated doors on the first and fourth carriages, the company said.
On weekdays, they are permitted from 10am to 4pm and from 10pm until the last service, with no restrictions on weekends and public holidays, it said.