The current century is witnessing a “well-being” craze, and many people have developed an interest not only in living a healthy life but also in bicycles. In addition, with the government’s focus on green growth and sustainability policies, the people’s demand for bicycles is increasing steadily. Actually, according to Korea Transport Database Center(KTDB), the percentage of people using bicycles as a transportation mode in Seoul increased from 0.7 to 2.8%, about four times, in the last ten years. To meet the people’s demand, the government is establishing more bicycle facilities, such as bike lanes, bicycle rental centers, and bicycle racks. ST is introducing some such facilities around Han River.
The total length of the bicycle lanes around Han River is 69.94 km. Thanks to the long lanes, they’re easy to approach from anywhere. There are 12 parks with rest areas and observatories in and around Han River: Gwangnaru, Jamsil, Ttukseom, Jamwon, Banpo, Ichon, Yeoido, Seonyudo, Yangwha, Mangwon, Nanji, and Gangseo.Although all these parks have their own special features that are good for riding bikes and with beautiful sceneries, ST has chosen two places near SSU: Nanji Hangang Park and Banpo Hangang Park. Nanji Hangang Park(Nanji) has a 13.2-km-long path for the use of people riding bikes or walking. It’s famous for its thick reeds and mirror fountain. There are also bicycle theme parks where you can experience riding special bicycles, such as wind power and mountain bicycles (MTB). Nanji’s lane is linked on the east to Ttukseom Hangang Park and on the west to Noeul and Haneul Park.
Banpo Hangang Park has 7.2-km bicycle lanes. It also has Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, listed in Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest bridge fountain. It has been holding fountain shows since May. In nearby Banpodagyo, there are two observatories, Noeul and Gureum Café, the largest observatories around Han River. There, you can rest, eat, or sip coffee while watching Han River, Namsan Tower, and the Moonlight Fountain shows. If you walk along the river, you will eventually reach Seorae Island, noted for its scenic beauty,featuring weeping willows and yellow rape flowers.
Don’t you have a bike,or is it too hard for you to bring one? Don’t worry. You can simply rent a bike from various rental shops, such as from the nearby Heukseok, Ttukseom Park, Jamsil, or Oksu Station. The nearest bicycle rental shop from Soongil University is located near Heukseok Station. You can borrow a bike there for free.
According to the many people who are using Han River’s cycle path, it’s a good place for resting and for riding a bike downtown. There are other people, however, who complain of the location of the bike lanes. They say that some lanes should be made in places like school areas or in places for commutes.
Moreover, it seems that the local governments are ill-prepared for bicycle vitalization compared with the government. According to Jeong Isaac (’07, Entrepreneurship & Small Business; president, SSU Bicycle Club, Jasaeman),“SSU and its surroundings have poor bicycle facilities. There is no cycletrack around SSU, and there are insufficient bicycle racks therein. The number of students using bicycles as a transportation mode is increasing, so more bicycle facilities are absolutely needed.”
Cycle tracks constructed on a national scale will enable us to travel from one area to another, but it is disappointing that most of the cycle tracks that have thus far been constructed in the country are recreational in nature. Amsterdam, the capital of Holland, has one of the most developed bicycle cultures in the world. Their roads have been made to have special “cycle track-pavement-road(for cars)-busway-road-pavement-cycle track”structures. The cycle tracks and pavements are divided at the crosswalks. There are also signal lights only for bicycle users.These were not built in a day. Amsterdam has been promoting bicycle policies consistently for 60 years now, since 1935. As for South Korea, the government’s bicycle policies have much to be desired. If we do not give up and if we study bicycles much harder and steadily, we will realize our goal:a rolling world with two wheels.
