YouBike for Foreigners: How to Register and Ride in Taiwan

Last fact-checked: 2026-08-19

Quick Summary

• What it is: Taiwan's public bike-sharing network, with docking stations near MRT exits, bus stops, and major attractions
• Where available: Taipei and New Taipei (most extensive), plus Taichung, Kaohsiung, and a growing list of other cities
• Do you need a local SIM? No — as of 2026, registration works with just an email address or foreign phone number
• Important 2026 update: A new mandatory injury insurance step applies to every rider, tourists included, before your very first ride

New for 2026: Mandatory Insurance Registration

Since January 1, 2026, every YouBike rider in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan — members and one-time tourists alike — must enroll in Public Bicycle Injury Insurance before a bike will unlock. Taichung introduced the same requirement earlier, and other cities are rolling it out on their own timelines.

The good news: this insurance is government-funded, so there is no extra charge to you. The setup takes just a few minutes inside the YouBike app — you will be asked to enter your passport number and confirm the coverage terms. Coverage reportedly extends up to NT$1,000,000 for serious injury, with daily hospitalization payouts capped at a set amount. Do this step before you try to unlock your first bike, or the dock simply will not release it.

Two Ways to Register as a Tourist

How you set up YouBike depends on whether you have a Taiwanese phone number.

• With a local number: Register a physical EasyCard through a station kiosk or the YouBike app, verified by SMS. Once set up, simply tap your card on any bike to unlock it — this also works for the MRT and buses.
• Without a local number (most tourists): Download the YouBike 2.0 app (微笑單車), choose "Single Rental" (單次租車), and register using your email address or foreign phone number. Bind a Visa or Mastercard, or Apple Pay, then scan the QR code on any bike to unlock it directly through the app — no EasyCard required.

Since 2026, some stations are also labeled as supporting direct credit-card tap rental without going through the app at all, though app-based single rental remains the most reliable method for visitors.

Combining with an EasyCard

Even if you plan to rely mostly on the app, picking up a physical EasyCard at the airport (around NT$100) and topping it up with some cash is worth doing anyway, since the same card works across the MRT, buses, and convenience stores. Linking it to YouBike gives you a second, faster way to unlock bikes without opening the app each time.

What It Costs

YouBike pricing is heavily subsidized and inexpensive by international standards — typically just a few NT dollars per half hour for a standard bike, with electric-assist YouBike 2.0E models priced a bit higher. Exact rates vary slightly by city, so check the current pricing table inside the app before your first ride rather than relying on older guides.

Riding Tips

• After returning a bike, you must wait about 15 minutes before you can release another one from any station
• Always check that the seat height adjusts properly and the bike is not wobbly before riding off — swap it at the dock if something feels off
• Most cities have dedicated bike lanes, but you will sometimes share the road with traffic — ride defensively
• The app shows real-time bike and dock availability at each station, which is especially useful during rush hour when docks near MRT stations fill up fast

Where to Start Riding

Central Taipei has by far the densest station network and is the easiest place to try YouBike for the first time — riverside paths along the Keelung and Xindian rivers are a relaxed way to get comfortable with the bikes before using them for practical point-to-point trips around the city.

If basing yourself in Taipei for the trip, Agoda has hotel deals in Taipei, and it is worth browsing Klook Taipei tours and activities to round out your visit.

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