Registered YouBike 2.0 members renting bicycles within Taipei City or New Taipei City enjoy the first 30 minutes free (subsidized by Taipei City Government starting February 28, 2024, and by New Taipei City Government starting March 1, 2025); subsequent usage within 4 hours costs NT$10 per 30 minutes, 4 to 8 hours costs NT$20 per 30 minutes, and usage over 8 hours costs NT$40 per 30 minutes. The electric-assist YouBike 2.0E does not provide a free first 30 minutes for standard members, charging NT$20 per 30 minutes for the first 2 hours.
Notice: Subsidies are determined strictly by the "pickup location", not where the bike is returned; single-rental users paying by credit card (temporary members) are ineligible for rental subsidies and incur a pre-authorization hold of NT$3,000. The YouBike official website states that subsidy expiration dates follow transportation bureau announcements; fee schedules and subsidies remain subject to the latest updates on the YouBike website pricing page and announcements from transportation bureaus in Taipei and New Taipei. Information in this guide was verified on October 31, 2026.
Taipei and New Taipei Fare Table
| Bicycle Type and Status | First 30 Minutes | Subsequent Usage | Regulatory Basis |
|---|
| YouBike 2.0, registered member renting in Taipei City or New Taipei City | Free (municipal government subsidy) | NT$10 per 30 minutes within 4 hours; NT$20 per 30 minutes for 4–8 hours; NT$40 per 30 minutes beyond 8 hours | Official YouBike Taipei and New Taipei pricing pages |
| YouBike 2.0E electric-assist bike, standard member | NT$20 | NT$20 per 30 minutes for the first 2 hours; NT$40 per 30 minutes beyond 2 hours | Same as above |
| YouBike 2.0E, Taipei or New Taipei Senior Card / Charity Card (effective July 1, 2026) | Free (municipal government subsidy) | Points deducted based on 2.0E rates; stored value deducted if points run out | Same as above; Taipei City Department of Transportation FAQ; New Taipei municipal news 2026-06-30 |
| Single Rental (Credit card, temporary member) | Subsidies not applicable | Calculated on baseline rates; pre-authorized hold of NT$3,000, valid for 120 hours per authorization | YouBike website pricing page |
Rides under 30 minutes are calculated as full 30-minute intervals. Sample calculation: a member renting a 2.0 bike in Taipei City for 50 minutes enjoys the first 30 minutes free, pays NT$10 for the remaining 20 minutes (counted as one 30-minute block); the same 50-minute journey on a 2.0E costs NT$40; a temporary single rental via credit card for 50 minutes on a 2.0 bike costs NT$20.
Why does 2.0E lack a free first 30 minutes? Taipei City Department of Transportation FAQs explain that electric-assist bicycles experience higher usage and turnover with a smaller fleet size, reserved for users with long-distance or uphill transit needs, and thus do not receive free 30-minute subsidies or TPASS periodic pass discounts. When Taipei City introduced the free first 30 minutes for 2.0 on February 28, 2024, it concurrently discontinued MRT and bus transfer discounts; New Taipei City Department of Transportation press releases on February 26, 2025, similarly confirmed the discontinuation of two-way bus and MRT transfer discounts effective March 1 to avoid duplicate subsidies.
Cross-City Rentals, Dispatch Fees & TPASS
- Subsidies determined by pickup location: Official Taipei Q&A on the YouBike website clarifies that users must borrow a 2.0 bicycle from any station within Taipei City to receive the Taipei 30-minute free discount; New Taipei City applies to members renting within New Taipei. Renting in Taipei and returning in New Taipei, or renting in New Taipei and returning in Taipei, is subsidized according to the pickup city.
- Cross-zone dispatch surcharges: The official dispatch table categorizes Taipei City and New Taipei City as a unified single zone; renting in Taipei and New Taipei and returning in Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu Science Park, or Miaoli County incurs a dispatch fee of NT$630; returning in Taichung incurs NT$815; returning in Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Tainan, Kaohsiung, or Pingtung incurs NT$910; returning in Taitung incurs NT$1,040. The table lists no cross-zone surcharge between Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan; verify with customer service prior to long-distance returns in Taoyuan.
- TPASS Mega City Pass: FAQs state that once the commuter pass is activated, YouBike offers the first 30 minutes free in Taipei City and New Taipei City, and the first 60 minutes free in Taoyuan City; YouBike docks cannot activate periodic passes; 2.0E e-bikes are ineligible for TPASS benefits. For monthly pass pricing and coverage, see our guide on How to Buy TPASS Monthly Pass and Transit Scope.
- Senior Cards and Charity Cards: Taipei cards rent at Taipei stations and return across Taipei and New Taipei; New Taipei cards rent in New Taipei and return across Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan; 2.0 offers the first 30 minutes at NT$0, with additional usage deducting welfare points per rate scale. See points rules in Senior Card Monthly Points in Taipei and New Taipei.
Membership, Smartcards & Single Rentals
YouBike membership operates seamlessly across Taiwan without requiring re-registration across cities. Bikes can be unlocked in two ways: tapping an officially registered EasyCard or iPASS directly on the sensor, or scanning QR codes via the official app linked to credit cards or mobile payment (Easy Wallet is supported in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan). One account can register up to 5 cards, and card balance must be NT$0 or greater to unlock.
- Re-rental restrictions: Returning a 2.0 bicycle requires a 10-minute cooldown period before borrowing from the same station again; 2.0E has no cooldown limit, but using Senior or Charity cards on 2.0E enforces a 10-minute wait at the same dock.
- Docking station full: The official app feature "No Dock Available (Extension)" provides a free 15-minute grace period, but users must physically latch the bike into an available dock to stop billing.
- Single rentals: Only credit cards are accepted, subsidies do not apply, each authorization holds NT$3,000 for up to 120 hours (released per issuing bank schedules upon normal return), and riders must complete accident insurance registration via the app before renting in Taipei, New Taipei, or Taoyuan.
- Public bicycle injury insurance: New members entering National ID and birthday automatically enroll their first registered card for free coverage; cards 2 through 5 and existing members must manually register via app or web. Starting January 1, 2026, members and temporary single renters must complete this free injury insurance before renting 2.0 or 2.0E in Taipei City, New Taipei City, or Taoyuan City, or bike unlocking is blocked (YouBike December 11, 2025 announcement; Taipei Department of Transportation December 11, Year 114 / 2025 press release). Single rentals register exclusively via the app.
Accidents and Missing Bike Protocols
According to YouBike official FAQ: if an accident occurs while riding, dial local customer service numbers (standard toll call) immediately, and request police assistance depending on circumstances; if equipment incurs severe damage requiring compensation, operators follow up with the renter. On-site road assistance service incurs a fee of NT$150 within Taipei City and New Taipei City. If a bicycle goes missing, notify customer service immediately and file a report with police; if unrecovered after 3 months, missing bicycle indemnification fees are assessed per membership standard contracts, with rental charges stopping at the exact time of police reporting.
| Insurance Scheme | Coverage Terms (YouBike Official Website) |
|---|
| Public Bicycle Injury Insurance (Free, requires registration) | Death benefit up to NT$1,000,000 (funeral expense insurance up to NT$690,000 for riders under 15 years old), disability compensation up to NT$1,000,000, hospitalization NT$1,000 daily, non-hospitalized fracture medical coverage up to NT$30,000 |
| Third-Party Liability Insurance | Injury or death caused to third parties during active rental ride, up to NT$2,000,000 per person, claimable with police incident records and official medical invoices |
The official portal warns that traffic law violations disqualify claims. Bicycles are legally classified as "slow vehicles"; statutory penalties under the Road Traffic Management and Penalties Act (Chinese: 道路交通管理處罰條例) include: failing to ride in slow vehicle lanes or keep right, riding without lights at night, or holding mobile phones while riding triggers fines of NT$300 to NT$1,200 (Article 73, Paragraph 1); riding on fast vehicle lanes or sidewalks, or disobeying traffic signal indications triggers fines of NT$300 to NT$1,200 (Article 74, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 1 and 5; where sidewalk markings designate slow vehicle paths, riders must yield to pedestrians under Subparagraph 8); riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol exceeding legal limits incurs fines of NT$2,400 to NT$12,000 along with immediate riding prohibition, while refusing a breathalyzer test incurs a fine of NT$24,000 (Article 73, Paragraphs 2 and 3). Note that New Taipei expanded senior points to 600 points. Check weather conditions before riding using our Commute Weather Advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I rent a bike in Taipei and return it in New Taipei, is the first 30 minutes still free?
Yes. Subsidies are determined by the pickup station. Renting a 2.0 bike within Taipei City qualifies for Taipei City's first 30 minutes free subsidy; Taipei and New Taipei share the same operational zone, so no cross-zone surcharge applies.
Does YouBike 2.0E provide a free first 30 minutes?
Standard members do not receive free rides, paying NT$20 per 30 minutes for the first 2 hours, and 2.0E is not eligible for TPASS Mega City Pass benefits. Only Taipei and New Taipei Senior and Charity cards enjoy free first 30 minutes on 2.0E starting July 1, 2026, when rented within their respective cities.
Can I rent without an EasyCard or iPASS?
Yes. You can use the official YouBike app to bind credit cards or mobile payment for QR code unlocking, or use a credit card for single rentals; single rentals receive no subsidies, require a pre-authorization hold of NT$3,000, and mandate app injury insurance registration in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan before unlocking.
How does insurance pay out if I get injured while riding?
You must register for public bicycle injury insurance in advance, and the rider must match the insured individual. When an accident occurs, notify customer service, contact police if necessary, and file claims with medical documentation; traffic violations may invalidate insurance claims.
Last updated: 2026-10-31
This article is compiled from public information by SOSfix editors for general guidance; consult YouBike customer service, Taipei City Department of Transportation, or New Taipei City Department of Transportation for individual cases.
Sources and References
- YouBike Smile Bike: Taipei City Rate Schedule (Verified 2026-10-31): 2.0 and 2.0E rate brackets, Taipei subsidy inception date, senior card 2.0E subsidy, re-rental limits, road assistance NT$150 fee, single rental terms, cross-zone dispatch table.
- YouBike Smile Bike: New Taipei City Rate Schedule (Verified 2026-10-31): New Taipei March 1, 2025 subsidy start, senior card 2.0E terms, road assistance NT$150 fee.
- YouBike Announcement: First 30 Minutes Free for YouBike 2.0 in Taipei City from 2024/02/28 (Published 2024-02-27, verified 2026-10-31): Subsidy based on rental location, cancellation of transfer discounts in Taipei.
- YouBike Announcement: Mandatory Insurance for All Riders Across Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan from 2026/01/01 (Published 2025-12-11, verified 2026-10-31): Universal insurance mandate for members and single rentals; single rentals require app.
- Taipei City Department of Transportation Press Release: Universal Mandatory Injury Insurance from Year 115 (Published 114-12-11, verified 2026-10-31): All bike models and single rentals covered under insurance mandate.
- New Taipei City Government Municipal News: Relaunching First 30 Minutes Free for YouBike 2.0 (Published 2025-02-26, verified 2026-10-31): March 1 start, cancellation of two-way transfer discounts, 10-minute re-rental window.
- Taipei City Department of Transportation FAQ: Why 2.0E Has No Free 30 Minutes or TPASS Discount (Updated 115-07-14, verified 2026-10-31): Rationale for 2.0E exclusions, senior card point deduction rules.
- New Taipei City Government Municipal News (Social Welfare Department): Expansion to 600 Points for Senior and Charity Cards (Published 2026-06-30, verified 2026-10-31): Senior cards expanded to 600 points and first 30 minutes free on 2.0E starting July 1.
- YouBike Smile Bike: Frequently Asked Questions (Verified 2026-10-31): Nationwide account roaming, incident and loss reporting, TPASS scope, senior card pickup/return boundaries, 15-minute extension.
- YouBike Smile Bike: Insurance Policy Details (Verified 2026-10-31): Injury insurance registration and coverage limits, third-party liability NT$2,000,000, violation disclaimer.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Road Traffic Management and Penalties Act (Amended August 17, Year 115 / 2026, verified 2026-10-31): Article 69 slow vehicles, Article 73 and Article 74 bicycle violations and fines.
Related reading: Taipei Station to Taoyuan Airport MRT: NT$160 Fare and Times · Taxi Fares in Taipei & New Taipei: Meters, Night & Luggage
