South Korea began encouraging citizens to ride bicycles several years ago, but the results have been less than ideal due to a lack of dedicated bike lanes and too many slopes. Now, the South Korean government plans to promote cycling comprehensively by incorporating it into the transportation system at the legislative level.
According to South Korea’s Kyunghyang Shinmun, officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that day that the government intends to amend traffic laws to include bicycles in the transportation system. The ministry plans to complete the relevant legal amendments by the end of the year after coordinating with researchers and various departments, as well as holding hearings to gather widespread public opinion.
South Korea’s current traffic laws define transportation tools for people or goods as only including cars, trains, airplanes, and ships. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that the existing transport system does not include bicycles, which has been criticized as not keeping up with pro-environmental trends. Many developed countries have included bicycles in their public transport lists and expanded bicycle lane networks. For example, in some cities in the Netherlands, nearly 60% of commuters use bicycles. A ministry official said: “We need a new type of transport system that connects walking, cycling, and other modes of transport.”
Yonhap News Agency reported that the government plans to build an integrated transport system connecting bicycles with other modes of transport by amending traffic laws, making it more convenient for cyclists to use other forms of transportation. Ministry officials said that bicycles have previously been regarded in South Korea as recreational tools, there are insufficient storage facilities for bicycles, and connections with other mass transit options are not smooth. South Korea plans to increase investment in the future to expand bicycle parking spaces and roads, support transfers to public transport, and offer fare discounts when cyclists transfer to buses, subways, and other modes of transport. In addition, the system for easily borrowing and returning bicycles will be expanded, and the national government will be responsible for statistically measuring the share of transportation contributed by bicycles, incorporating bicycles into the overall transportation management system.