Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mojogrrl]

I'm hoping to teach in Korea by Sept 2008, and I'm interested in living in an area that allows for transportation by bike, rural or urban. So far I've read about the following areas, and any further info on these places or others would be greatly appreciated!

- Gwangju
- Daegu
- Gyeongju
- Sangju

Also, if there are bike-friendly cities just outside of Seoul or Busan I'd be interested as well!

thanks!

[Wisconsinite]

Madison, WI

Seriously....

Look, take or leave this advice but if you are looking to work in a place that is progressive and liberal and has bike lanes then Korea is not for you. It is none of those things on a good day. I would think carefully about whether you are coming to experience a new way of life or just continue the one you already have. If you are coming for a new experience then get on the plane, bringing an open mind of course. If not, stay home, you will be miserable.

[mojogrrl]

...my intent was to find out about potentially bike-friendly cities, but i understand your response based on my rather limited posting. unfortunately the term "progressive" seems to have suggested to you that i'm not open to embracing a culture different from my own. this is definitely not the case, so i'm editing my original post to avoid any further confusion.

i bike to get pretty much everywhere here in DC, and thought it would be cool to inquire about others who may do that in Korea. plus, i think it would be cool to meet other Korean environmentalists - green is global, man.

[hinesketchup]

I don't know about bike friendly cities, but I do hear that Changwon has alot of parks and trees, more so than many other places in Korea. I'd assume that more parks = more places to bike.

[flummuxt]

Wisconsinite is basically correct.

Korea would be a beautiful country to go road biking, but they have given virtually no consideration to this.

Many adult Koreans still ride a bike to work, if it is within the town and only a mile or two. But they don't own cars, which is something of a disgrace here.

Koreans also ride recreationally within the bigger cities. But you will have to ride on sidewalks for the most part, going up and down curbs, competing with motorbikes and pedestrians. 99 out of 100 times, Koreans ride mountain bikes in town. I have seen a rare road bike competing with traffic on the outskirts. You would be risking your life. You also risk flats because of the abundance of broken glass and litter in Korea.

Koreans with jobs have cars now, and have thrown away their bicycles.

On the other hand, they are gradually putting in recreational walking paths in my city, which would allow bicyclists. But we're not talking a 20 mile ride in the country.

As to buses, they sell all sorts of folding bicycles here, and I am told you can bring one on a bus. I have never seen it. I wouldn't try it on a busy bus. You might be able to stick one under an intercity bus, though.

Actually, I met Korean in a road riding group with a $1,000 road bike he got from Busan, I believe. And Lance Armstrong came to Korea last fall, believe it or not. If you could find one of those Korean bicycling groups, they could tell you more.

The only other alternative is a really, really rural area with virtually no cars. But the country roads are almost always narrow and curvy, with absolutely no shoulders, and often with buses in a big hurry coming around the bend.

Then you might be able to go riding.

For awhile.

[pidgin]

Bundang (outside Seoul) is a decent area for bikes.

A long (wide) walkway connects a chain of at least 6 "towns," at street level and a creek winds through them as well (under street level) with efficient bike paths (seperate from the sidewalks) on both sides of the creek.

The creek even has on and off ramps for the bikers.

I don't currently have a bike but I see a fair few foreigners biking (seemingly) to work around here. It'd be a piece of cake, honestly.

[michael5799042]

There are some good bike lanes by the rivers in Seoul.
I thought about getting a bike, but I walk to work instead (I think it is much safer considering everywhere is so crowded). But, if you don't mind taking your chances on the roads there are many people who use bikes in Korea. You can take a folding bike on the subway as well.

[julian_w]

What Pidgin said - I've heard Bundang is good, too - only been through there once and on four wheels but it looked good and a local foreigner there raved about it all for being fairly outdoors activity friendly. I've also heard that Daejon recently got a real bike lane (ie. actually on the road, not on the messed-up pavement/sidewalk/footpath), and from what I've seen when travelling through, the roads are wide and the city is flat. (...although I'd miss the hills...).

I've been getting around on a relatively cheap Korean made road bike for the last year in Busan, and am now getting around the city in Gwangju, Jeollanamdo, fairly easily. While it has no really decent cycle lanes that would be useful for me, the roads are fairly wide, and the city size is such that it takes about half an hour to get down town, although 10 minutes of that is waiting at traffic lights at major intersections, so, it's fun exploring alternative routes which avoid the lights.

People who say you take your life in your hands are generally right - you get people/ idiots in cars overtaking only to cut in front of you immediately to turn right, forcing you to slam on brakes or else side-slam them; others call your bluff and edge out onto the road to see if you'll slow down to let them out - but actually, this kind of nonsense does not happen every day, and I find people are more cautious of me than when I had a motorbike for a couple of years a while back.

Generally I find drivers here are surprisingly accommodating, and the worst thing about being on two wheels here is the stink of exhaust. But then again, there are often alternative routes you can take which avoid both the worst of the smellymobiles and the traffic lights, including river-side trails as some already said.

So obviously the most versatile way to get around would be on a mountain bike with slicks, so as to do good pavement hopping when appropriate, and then back on the road when it's better. Be sure to keep all your safety gear good, and you should be fine.

Oh, and, what was said about clubs is right, too. It's a great way to meet locals, particularly a variety of interesting types. I was virtually adopted by a cycle club I met in town by coincidence last year (just before I left).

Met this retired professor guy twice my age, in his late 60s, who could burn me off and leave me behind on his mountain bike. Turned out later he'd cycle-toured across Canada and the 'States with his wife some years ago, but he was still naturally cycle-fit and his English was probly better than mine, too. Some clubs meet only once a week, and some more often. That club met three times a week. Completely into it, and quite welcoming. Insisted I join them for grilled eal and soju afterwards. Nice peoples.

[Underwaterbob]

I'm biking to work everyday now. I live in Chungju. They are quite bike friendly here. There are even bike lanes here and there.

[Wisconsinite]

[kiwiduncan]

[hbyrne1206]

I live in Bundang and I'm able to bike everywhere I need to go, and then just for fun as well. It's a nice place to live too.

[Pink Freud]

I bike just about everywhere I go in Daegu, and think that julian 's post is a very accurate description of my experience riding in Korea.

I've been hit twice, deliberately run off the road once. Riding here is stressful, but it's a way of life for me!

[healed]

Jinju is The Bicycle City. I live in Jinju and I am a commuter biker. There is a bike lane which takes me virtually from my home to my school, give or take 2 or 3 blocks. Also there is a fine bike path along the Namgong River.

One of the reasons that I chose Jinju is because of it's beauty and bicycle-friendliness. Sure often I bike on sidewalks but many are marked, half for pedestrians and half for bikers.

Hope this helps.

[Kimchi Cowboy]

A lot of what's been said above is correct, if seemingly contradictory. Welcome to Korea!

It all depends on where you live; not just in which city, but in which part of which city, and how far do you intend to go with your bike. Subways & buses aren't so accommodating (there are *no* bike racks on buses, and the subways & stations aren't designed to carry bikes. I've heard of people doing it, however.)

Some areas of Seoul have easy access to the river trails; great for exercising and sightseeing. Some areas have nice wide sidewalks; others don't. I personally ride to/from work every day, now that the weather has turned, but that's only a 12~15 minute ride. I will also ride to/from the big dept. stores for groceries and whatnot. I rarely ride on the roadway, and I rarely need to.

If I want to go into the city proper, however, that's not a ride I'm willing to entertain, and it's not just about the distances involved. I have no qualms about getting on the bike for a few hours to explore the river trails & the parks, but taking on Seoul's traffic? Not a chance. I ride to ride, not to stop and go. And stop. And go. And stop.

I'm fairly sure you'll find something / someplace that roughly approximates what you're looking for, but be prepared for less than you expect. Good luck, and safe riding!