Driving with Navigation Assistance 🪝

Even with all the navigation assistance imaginable, the real challenge of driving a scooter in Taiwan is the left turn. In Taiwan, motorbikes with engine power less than 125ccm, are only allowed to go in the first two rightmost lanes. Driving on the right side of the road, in bigger cities, including the capital Taipei, where 3 to 4 lane roads are quite common, this restriction complicates your ability to make a left turn. Theoretically, it's not allowed. But there is a hidden design in Taiwan's traffic system that solves this seemingly subtle restriction. It's called the hook turn.

The idea is this: instead of going left on intersections, you are going slightly right and place yourself in areas on the street that are marked as white rectangular boxes. As you place yourself there, you let the traffic that you just emerged from pass by and wait in your box. You are now in front of the crossing traffic, that is waiting their turn for the green light.

You are now facing straight, which just seconds ago was to your left. The little box tends to fill up with motorcyclists that want to do a left turn as well. As the lights turn green, and you cross the intersection, you have successfully completed your hook turn, and it is absolutely beautiful. A clever way, increasing traffic safety, thanks to a simple idea: navigating from box to box and never really going left.

Navigating the streets of Taiwan

Another restriction that is forced upon smaller bikes is your ability to drive on motorways. As such, you'll be wise to avoid them or be fined instead. Legend has it, that if you do end up on a motorway, when actually not allowed to be there, all the Taiwanese will shout at you, shooing you off the expressway, when they notice that your licence plate's colour isn't motorway-compliant.

This is the point where technology comes into play: navigational apps that prevent you from making this severe mistake. And this time, as opposed to my adventures on the scooter in Vietnam, I'm equipped with a smartphone mount. The problem though, is that Apple Maps doesn't have an option for motorbike navigation, giving me no other alternative than actually using a Google product. Too bad. Well, just this time.

And thus, I'm ready to explore the beauty of this country. And I know, you've been dying to ask. The answer is no. There's no comparison between the absolute madness that is the Vietnamese traffic and the order that reigns on the streets of Taiwan.

And yet, to quote my motorbike rental shop person of confidence, Jeremy:

There's crazy in the heart of every Taiwanese.

Bring it on, then!