Taipei vows to crack down on Uber's motorcycle ride program

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) Uber's planned one-month "short-range cultural experience" program to offer free motorcycle rides in Beitou District would violate Taiwan's laws and face penalties if carried out, the Taipei City government said Wednesday.

Uber Taiwan announced earlier Wednesday that the pilot program was to begin at 2 p.m. and last for a month. Uber's plan is to have drivers provide motorcycle rides to passengers, and during the trial period in Beitou, the rides will be free and cover short distances.

Taipei Transportation Commissioner Hsieh Ming-hong (謝銘鴻) told CNA by phone that Taiwan's current regulations do not permit this type of motorcycle passenger transportation service, and that even if they did, Uber had not applied to the city for approval.

If Uber were to proceed with the program, it would be violating existing regulations, Hsieh said, and the city "will not tolerate" such a service and will impose penalties in accordance with the Highway Act.

The city's Public Transportation Office said the issue involved more than just driver qualifications, with passenger safety also at risk.

Existing regulations do not provide a framework governing insurance, liability and passenger protections related to this type of service, and accidents could therefore lead to disputes over insurance claims, legal liability and passenger rights, the office said.

The central government backed Taipei's position.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Deputy Transportation Minister Chen Yen-po (陳彥伯) said Uber's attempt to frame the service as an "experience" would make no difference to its legal status.

Describing the nature of the program as "commercial," Chen said the authorities would determine whether the service constitutes an illegal transport operation based on how it is actually conducted rather than on whether passengers were charged a fee.

At present, while ride-hailing services are available for cars in Taiwan, they are not available for motorcycles.

Meanwhile, the Taipei Taxidrivers Union and the Taiwan Digital Platform Reservation and Pickup Workers Union issued a joint statement condemning the project.

The statement cited a warning from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), which has said that matching passengers with motorcycle rides constitutes an unauthorized transportation business and may be punishable by fines of up to NT$25 million (US$784,412).

The unions described Uber's decision as an open challenge to the law and urged the Highway Bureau to strictly enforce regulations, while calling on the Ministry of Economic Affairs to consider revoking the company's business registration and investment permit.

In a statement of its own, Uber did not acknowledge the service's legal status or address the government's contention that it was illegal.

Instead, it said it had established safety measures with its partner company in the venture, Rides Formosa Co., Ltd., an Uber affiliate.

Uber said participant protection and support would be provided in accordance with applicable regulations, and indicated that all participating motorcycle drivers meet the program's safety requirements and have good records.

Also, helmets that comply with safety standards would be provided to passengers, and the Uber app includes driver identity verification and safety features such as route deviation detection and real-time trip sharing, the company said.

The unions stressed, however, that despite being promoted as a "cultural experience," the program was effectively a passenger transportation service that is not permitted under Taiwan's current regulations.

They said the initiative had sparked concern and anger among taxi and ride-hailing drivers who have obtained operating licenses and comply with existing rules.

The groups urged Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and the city government to clearly oppose the project, called on Uber to halt the pilot immediately, and asked authorities to establish a dedicated task force and reporting hotline, with rewards for reporting violations.

They also criticized Uber for telling participating riders to "make their own assessments," saying the company was shifting legal risks onto frontline participants and using them as "guinea pigs" to test the limits of the law.