Taiwan is not really a country of cyclists. With petrol getting more and more expensive, however, more and more of them can be seen in the streets - be it in towns or in cities. In the past few months, some bike producers had to run extra shifts to cover the growing demand for this timeless means of transport. And recently, the really bad, extremely polluted air in Taiwan has improved substantially. It is not a surprise, then, to see that monuments are being created in honor of the bicycle as is the case in Yuanling, a town in Central Taiwan - and this monument is a really environmental-friendly one, a green monument in the word's best meaning:
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This "plant bicycle" surrounded by flowers, located close to the train station, reminds people of leaving their cars or scooters unused from time to time so as to enjoy the pleasure cycling. It remains to be seen whether or not people will really change their attitudes. This idea, however, is of great originality, and it points to the future. In the years to come, most probably, more and more people will use their bikes and change the appearance of towns and cities substantially - for the sake of their wallets, and - last but not least - for the sake of their health.
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