Night Riding in Kaohsiung is All the Rage

　It has become increasingly popular to cycle the city after sunset. Popular cycling paths include the downtown area, Gangshan, and Cheng Ching Lake. Currently, several small groups gather to enjoy these night rides.

　Yang Jhong-yuan, director of the Kaohsiung International Bike Tourism Promotion Association, also agrees that cycling at night is quite a different experience from riding during the day. He mentions that popular routes suitable for beginners include the Asia's New Bay Area, Martyrs' Shrine, Museum of Fine Arts, Lotus Pond, Cheng Ching Lake, and Jhengyi Railway Station. He advises them to choose flatter routes surrounded by greenery; beginner routes include Fongshan, Fongshan River, the Old Fongshan City Wall, and Lotus Pond. The scenery along the way is breathtaking, and the bicycle paths are well-planned, making them ideal for family rides. He also recommends West Side Harbor Line Bike Path. The lights along the coast are like sparkling stars. If time allows, you can continue your journey and visit Sizihwan and Shoushan to appreciate the scenic nightspots. Cyclists can also get to interesting places such as Gangshan Skywalk. Although the mountain road is much more challenging, cyclists can enjoy the panoramic views of the city at night.

　When the weather is good, Ruby (an office worker), regularly meets her friends for evening bike rides. Since it is usually hot and sunny in Kaohsiung, evenings are far more suitable for cycling. Whether it's along the romantic Love River, serenaded by music, or riding up the suburban hills that overlook the city, night cycling has certainly become a popular activity for avid cyclists. 

　Weili's Cycling World blog has a Tuesday night cyclist group. They often ride around Dagangshan, Cheng Ching Lake, the "Fo Guang 50" route from Dashu to Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, and Shoushan, a more advanced cycling route. 

　Even though Kaohsiung has a convenient transportation network, it also provides numerous bike routes that are popular with night cyclists. So, jump on your bike and take an evening tour of Kaohsiung's suburbs and port areas. Enjoy the sea breeze as you cycle beside the ocean and enjoy Kaohsiung's scenic night views.

夜騎單車在港都 蔚為風潮

　　當華燈初上，喜好夜騎自行車的愛好者闖蕩市區、岡山、澄清湖，以時速15公里的節奏，感受城市入夜以後的脈動。

　　上班族的Ruby在天晴的夜晚，固定和好友相約夜騎，生活在高雄，相較於艷陽高照的白天，夜晚反而更適合運動，而無論是樂聲繚繞的愛河畔，洋溢浪漫情調，又或是俯瞰閃爍夜景的郊山，夜間風景吸引了許多自行車車友。

　　自行車運動蔚為風潮，目前港都夜騎團多以小團體為主，部落客「威力的單車世界」每週二固定邀集單車愛好者練車夜訓，路線從夜巡大岡山、澄清湖繞圈，大樹到佛陀紀念館往返的「佛光50」路線，還有屬於中度挑戰爬坡的壽山夜騎。

　　「夜騎可以欣賞到與白天截然不同的都市夜景。」高雄市國際自行車觀光促進協會的楊忠原理事長說。欣賞夜景他首推岡山之眼附近，山路雖然挑戰體力，揮汗騎行後，整個高雄市區景致盡收眼底，值得一遊。至於適合新手與親子的行程，楊忠原則推薦西臨港線，沿著寬闊舒適的港灣自行車道，沿岸燈光彷若繁星，在漆黑靜謐的海灣熠熠生輝。如果時間允許，不妨延伸腳步，上到西子灣和柴山、壽山欣賞夜色。

　　「初學者的路線建議從市區開始，亞洲新灣區、忠烈祠、美術館、蓮池潭、澄清湖、綠園道正義火車站周遭都是熱門的自行車路線。」楊忠原補充說：「初學者建議從市區平面自行車道開始，像最近以綠園道為主題的夜騎，往南鳳山、鳳山溪，往北左營舊城、蓮池潭，景色佳且沿路自行車道規劃完善，非常適合一家大小一起騎乘。」

　　在城市夜騎由於交通便利據點多，但夜騎裝備仍馬虎不得，像是前後車燈、安全帽等為最必要的基本配備，讓騎乘更安全。

　　跳上鐵馬騁馳在高雄市郊與港區，感受清風拂過的涼爽，踩踏雙輪看見高雄的夜間魅力。