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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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 Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject: Nationwide Bicycling Network Planned |
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This is from the Korea Times today. It sounds good but I have a couple of concerns. The first is that this might be another set of promises intended the soften opposition to the grand canal project. The second is that, as far as I know, Korea already has a "Tour De Korea". The President's Secretary appears not to know this, which suggests to me that they are pretty clueless.
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Nationwide Bicycling Network Planned
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
The government is considering building bicycle-only roads spanning 3,114 kilometers across the country over the next 10 years and launching an international bicycle competition mimicking the Tour de France as part of efforts to promote eco-friendly industries.
The administration also plans to designate a Bicycle Day this year and redesign roads in big cities to provide a safer environment for cyclists.
``We are preparing a set of measures to promote the use of bicycles,'' a presidential secretary said on condition of anonymity. ``One of them is to build belts of bicycle-only roads around the country's four major rivers and link them to large cities.''
President Lee Myung-bak has shown keen interest in the ideas and instructed officials to carry out feasibility studies, the secretary said.
Under the plan, municipal governments should also consider cyclists when they build new roads or renovate existing ones.
``We believe bicycles are a solution to traffic jams and air pollution. Our goal is to make bicycles replace more than five percent of traffic,'' the secretary said.
Only 1.2 percent of people use bicycles as a means of transportation, which is far lower than the 14 percent in Japan and 27 percent in the Netherlands. The country will see the rate rise to 10 percent by 2017 if the government continues to improve infrastructure for cyclists and introduce bicycle-friendly traffic rules, he said.
By the end of June, the government will create a Bicycle Day as part of efforts to promote the use of bicycles. Once bicycle roads are complete, the administration can launch an international race similar to the Tour de France.
``You could call it the Tour de Korea,'' the secretary said.
The project is also expected to be a bonanza for the bicycle industry.
On average, the government can create 16 jobs by putting one billion won into an industry. However, the bicycle industry could create 60 more jobs with the same amount of cash because bicycle manufacturing is labor-intensive, he said. |
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denistron
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| If you want to bike around Busan you might want to write up a will first. Even walking anywhere near the road is dangerous. Unless they plan on educating people how to drive safely this idea will never work. |
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Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Nationwide Bicycling Network Planned |
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| kiwiduncan wrote: |
This is from the Korea Times today. It sounds good but I have a couple of concerns. The first is that this might be another set of promises intended the soften opposition to the grand canal project. The second is that, as far as I know, Korea already has a "Tour De Korea". The President's Secretary appears not to know this, which suggests to me that they are pretty clueless.
| Quote: |
Nationwide Bicycling Network Planned
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
The government is considering building bicycle-only roads spanning 3,114 kilometers across the country over the next 10 years and launching an international bicycle competition mimicking the Tour de France as part of efforts to promote eco-friendly industries.
The administration also plans to designate a Bicycle Day this year and redesign roads in big cities to provide a safer environment for cyclists.
``We are preparing a set of measures to promote the use of bicycles,'' a presidential secretary said on condition of anonymity. ``One of them is to build belts of bicycle-only roads around the country's four major rivers and link them to large cities.''
President Lee Myung-bak has shown keen interest in the ideas and instructed officials to carry out feasibility studies, the secretary said.
Under the plan, municipal governments should also consider cyclists when they build new roads or renovate existing ones.
``We believe bicycles are a solution to traffic jams and air pollution. Our goal is to make bicycles replace more than five percent of traffic,'' the secretary said.
Only 1.2 percent of people use bicycles as a means of transportation, which is far lower than the 14 percent in Japan and 27 percent in the Netherlands. The country will see the rate rise to 10 percent by 2017 if the government continues to improve infrastructure for cyclists and introduce bicycle-friendly traffic rules, he said.
By the end of June, the government will create a Bicycle Day as part of efforts to promote the use of bicycles. Once bicycle roads are complete, the administration can launch an international race similar to the Tour de France.
``You could call it the Tour de Korea,'' the secretary said.
The project is also expected to be a bonanza for the bicycle industry.
On average, the government can create 16 jobs by putting one billion won into an industry. However, the bicycle industry could create 60 more jobs with the same amount of cash because bicycle manufacturing is labor-intensive, he said. |
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Hey maybe they will invite other countries to race in their already exisiting TdK...and get clobbered.
I agree with you D, things aren't going well politically and this is a diversion tactic. In addition, you really don't want to bring bike manufacturing any closer to Korea as it's may employ a few folks but it's a dirty, nasty business with welding, painting and packaging.
OTOH, you can't fix stupid and if one ever wants to see a Korea safe for cycling, you gotta take the bikes off the roads. I am firmly against that on other planets like the Americas and Europe but here, no way.
...then there's the issue of the bobble-headed pedestrians on the bike paths. SHEEEZ! there's not winning. |
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Zolt
Joined: 18 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's a great idea! Drivers switch to bicycle, are promptly squashed by drunk ajosshis, and then they're off the road for good! Result, less traffic jam, and less pollution (if you don't count cleaning up the mess first)
Lee myung-bag should be the first showing the example!
Seriously, I'm all for bikes and used them to commute all the time in Japan, but in Korea, the roads, infrastructure and driving habits all but prohibit it. Not to mention the climate, with 4 different seasons consisting of "too goddam cold, too goddam hot, too goddam hot and dusty etc.." |
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NoExplode
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:32 am Post subject: |
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| My city had bike paths everywhere--around and throughout the city--however, they are generally used as parking areas by Koreans, to the point where it's impossible to bike on the bike paths. |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| I want to derail this for a second. Remember about three years ago there was a guy who used to do bike races? He tried to enter the "tour de Korea" or whatever but wasn't allowed b/c he was foreign. I'm pretty sure the thread was deleted, but does anyone remember what I'm talking about? |
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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
| I want to derail this for a second. Remember about three years ago there was a guy who used to do bike races? He tried to enter the "tour de Korea" or whatever but wasn't allowed b/c he was foreign. I'm pretty sure the thread was deleted, but does anyone remember what I'm talking about? |
I remember this controversy, and think even a lot of the Korean riders themselves were pissed off with and embarrassed by the decisions made by the organisers. I think the organisers had high hopes of inviting some high profile foreign riders to the race but at the same time found some lame excuse for not allowing Korea-based foreign riders to join in.
It's pathetic that weasel face's secretary does not know that there is already a Tour De Korea. It shows how uninformed and lazy his advisors are. Probably the same advisors who think building the canal from Incheon to Seoul will bring in huge numbers of extra tourists. |
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poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| I was refused entry to a sponsored race a few years ago. If I remember correctly, it was because I wasn't sponsored. But two years ago, I won our cities 20k sprint. |
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