Cabin Motorcycles Cleared for Road Use; Taipei, New Taipei Lean Towards Banning Them from Expressways

(CNA Taipei, June 30) Cabin motorcycles were cleared for road use today, with Taipei City prohibiting them on the Xinsheng Elevated Expressway, Jianguo Expressway, and Huandong Boulevard. The New Taipei City government is considering a direction to ban cabin motorcycles from the provincial highway elevated sections under its jurisdiction, the New Taipei Riverside Expressway, and the Xizhi Container Access Road.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications recently announced amendments to the "Road Traffic Safety Rules," allowing three-wheeled motorcycles with enclosed cabins and steering wheel systems (cabin motorcycles) to be used on roads starting June 30. However, they are not permitted on highways, expressways, or motorcycle-only lanes. Whether they can be used on expressways managed by local governments will depend on the local authorities.

Taipei City's Department of Transportation stated that according to previous discussions at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, current cabin motorcycles developed by manufacturers are classified as regular heavy motorcycles. Therefore, they are prohibited from expressways such as the Xinsheng Elevated Expressway, Jianguo Expressway, and Huandong Boulevard.

The New Taipei City Government's Public Works Department stated that the expressways currently managed by New Taipei City are the provincial highway elevated sections, the New Taipei Riverside Expressway, and the Xizhi Container Access Road. Provincial Highways 64 and 65 are managed by the Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

The New Taipei City Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Section stated that they only learned today that some road sections are left to local governments to decide whether to allow cabin motorcycles, and internal discussions on related regulations are ongoing. They will also refer to the practices of other cities. It is understood that although cabin motorcycles have the same road rights as small cars, due to their nature being similar to white-plate motorcycles, the city government may consider prohibiting them from expressways.

Taoyuan City Government's Department of Transportation stated that Taoyuan City currently has no expressways under local government jurisdiction; all related road rights are managed by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. After inquiring with the Ministry, cabin motorcycles are not initially permitted on expressways such as Provincial Highway 61 and 66.

Taichung City Government stated today that Taichung has no expressways under local government jurisdiction, and therefore has no relevant management authority. Whether they can be used on roads is determined by the central government.

Kaohsiung City's Department of Transportation stated that there are no elevated expressways under its jurisdiction within Kaohsiung City; all are either highways (managed by the National Freeway Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications) or expressways (managed by the Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications). Usage will follow central government regulations.

Taipei City's Department of Transportation stated that expressways are under central government jurisdiction. Now that the decision on whether to allow cabin motorcycles on roads is delegated to local governments, the Department of Transportation has just received this news and has not yet discussed it. Taichung City's elevated roads consist only of the North Outer Ring Road, which currently allows red-plate and yellow-plate heavy motorcycles. Whether cabin motorcycles will be allowed in the future remains to be discussed. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150630

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