臺灣地區近年來積極推動自行車旅遊,各縣市政府亦努力興建自行車道,期以帶動城市與鄉村遊憩的發展。惟現階段自行車道的建設或只考量土木的道路工程、或只注重惟美的景觀設計,缺乏使用者的基礎分析與自行車遊憩之相關研究。本文首先探究國外發展自行車觀光的歷程、整理各國自行車觀光與自行車遊憩的定義,再檢視臺灣以自行車推動觀光旅遊的機會。本研究認為臺灣地區透過自行車活動帶動國民旅遊,以「自行車遊憩」為定位較「自行車觀光」適當,自行車遊憩之定義為:以自行車從事旅遊(遊憩)活動,自行車在遊程中不僅是運輸工具,同時也扮演旅遊(遊憩)供給的角色,提供自行車騎士(自行車遊客)良好的遊憩體驗。
It appears that bicycle usage and associated tourism and recreational activities have become a popular travel mode together with the rising environmentalism and increasing awareness for sustainable development. The relationship between tourism, recreation and transportation development is an inseparable one that affects local economy, nation-wide and international competitiveness for some countries. The recent development of bicycle lanes in Taiwan merely considers the civil engineering work or superficial landscape design but has very little interest in the studying of cyclist behaviors and bicycle characteristics. After combining tourism, recreation and bicycle transportation, recreational cycling in Taiwan can be defined as: tourist activities conducted by bicycles during the tour provide cyclists good traveling experience.