Korean Job Discussion Forums

catchshime · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:43 am Post subject: Should I get a bike in Seoul?

How bike-friendly are the streets of Seoul? If I want to ride on a main road to the subway station and lock my bike there during the day, is this something people generally do? It's such a crowded and packed city, I would think wearing a helmet is a must...

climber159 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007

Get a bike. It sucks being confined to the buses and subways. Most drivers won't see you, so you need to see them. On the main roads I'd use the sidewalks. Make sure you get a loud bell for your bike and use it often to move the pedestrians out of the way.

There is also a very extensive network of bike paths along the Han River and its tributaries. Except for the waking hours of the weekends these are great places to ride.

And, a piece of advice for when you buy a bike. Get a Korean brand as the imports are pretty pricey. There's a great bike shop at Hapjeong Station near exits 6 and 4. And, yeah, a helmet is a good idea...not matter where you're riding.

BobbyOrr · Joined: 01 Jun 2009

Yes, get a bike.

I bought one a month ago and I am loving it. I've battled a lot of traffic at home and I actually feel safer riding in Seoul. Drivers are actually used to bike, scooters and motorcylces. That's not to say you don't have be super careful, but I've had no problems yet. The buses even give you a nice little honk to let you know they are there.

You can get around super fast on a bike. Sometimes faster than a car if there's traffic and red lights. The trails along the Han are nice to ride as well.