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bike + bus?

 
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DanseurVertical



Joined: 24 Nov 2010

PostPosted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:51 pm    Post subject: bike + bus? Reply with quote

Many busses in the US have bike racks, such that you can bike to a bus station, and when the bus comes you rack your bike and board.

Is Korea like this as well? In particular, what about the greater Anyang area?
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nathanrutledge



Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh

PostPosted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

not at all. you can take a bike in the undercarriage of the cross country buses, but that's it.
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Troglodyte



Joined: 06 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've seen a couple city buses in Gyeonggido with those bike holding racks on the front. Rare - very rare - maybe only 2 buses ever - but I do remember seeing it. Don't count on it though.

You can take a small fold-up bike on the city bus. You can take any type of bike on the subways (excluding rush hour). If you take it on the subway, you're supposed to use the last compartment.

On intercity buses, you can put a bike in the luggage compartment below the bus. See if you can find a piece of cardboard to cover the bike with. The bus driver may be reluctant if the bike isn't super clean. In my experience though, they usually don't care as long as it's not covered in mud and the compartment isn't already near full. For your own benefit, bring a wrench with you to remove the pedals. It's better for your bike.
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Big_Bird



Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was disappointed arriving in Korea after living in China, where I had ridden a bike every day. There was no bike culture where I lived, and I soon realised it was terribly dangerous given how Koreans drive, and the lack of bike lanes and the like. Perhaps it depends where you live, but I lived in Seoul as well as in a nearby city and I just had to give up on cycling the whole time I remained in Korea.
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pkang0202



Joined: 09 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big_Bird wrote:
I was disappointed arriving in Korea after living in China, where I had ridden a bike every day. There was no bike culture where I lived, and I soon realised it was terribly dangerous given how Koreans drive, and the lack of bike lanes and the like. Perhaps it depends where you live, but I lived in Seoul as well as in a nearby city and I just had to give up on cycling the whole time I remained in Korea.


The Han River has a long stretch where you can bike. Some of the other parks in and around the city has places to ride too. Where did you expect to ride your bike? In the middle of Hongdae or Gangnam?
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Big_Bird



Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pkang0202 wrote:
Big_Bird wrote:
I was disappointed arriving in Korea after living in China, where I had ridden a bike every day. There was no bike culture where I lived, and I soon realised it was terribly dangerous given how Koreans drive, and the lack of bike lanes and the like. Perhaps it depends where you live, but I lived in Seoul as well as in a nearby city and I just had to give up on cycling the whole time I remained in Korea.


The Han River has a long stretch where you can bike. Some of the other parks in and around the city has places to ride too. Where did you expect to ride your bike? In the middle of Hongdae or Gangnam?


Yes, that's fine if you're close to the Han River and you want a leisurely cycle. If you actually intend to cycle to work and to the shops, and to meet your friends, it's not much use. I often used to walk along the Han river during my last year in Seoul, and before I became pregnant, I used to roller blade there too, but I didn't see anyone cycling back then. I haven't been back to Korea for more than 5 years, so my knowledge is out of date anyway. But in my 3 and a half years in Korea, I only saw someone riding a bicycle once. Some old guy in shabby clothes... I think cycling was seen as the preserve of the lower classes, and no-one wanted to be seen dead on a bike!

I wouldn't advise riding along the roads in Korea, except where you have access to lonely lanes. The driving is just dreadful, and I had a few very frightening moments on my moped, with drivers doing crazy stuff like turning corners but taking short cuts by driving across the wrong lane to get into the right lane.... nearly wiping me out once. Cycling is wonderful, but I don't think it's worth your life....

In China on the otherhand, the roads have a bike lane which is often fenced off from the main traffic. You have bike lights, and bike bridges and all sorts of infrastructure for bikes. You feel very safe on the roads. I rode my bike several hours a day there, just cycling to and for from work, and to meet up with friends, and to make trips to the markets. You can ride in the equivalent of Hongdae and Gangnam in China. There's provision for you to do so. I used to ride through the heart of Beijing every day at one point.

I once invited my Chinese collegues for a leisurely bike trip in the countryside. They came and admitted that they were amazed. They'd never thought of getting on a bike just for the pleasure of it. It was a new experience for them! They all had bikes and rode them every day, but they saw it in utilitarian terms - something to get to work on. I guess they had the opposite notion to you of what bikes are for.
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pkang0202



Joined: 09 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big_Bird wrote:
pkang0202 wrote:
Big_Bird wrote:
I was disappointed arriving in Korea after living in China, where I had ridden a bike every day. There was no bike culture where I lived, and I soon realised it was terribly dangerous given how Koreans drive, and the lack of bike lanes and the like. Perhaps it depends where you live, but I lived in Seoul as well as in a nearby city and I just had to give up on cycling the whole time I remained in Korea.


The Han River has a long stretch where you can bike. Some of the other parks in and around the city has places to ride too. Where did you expect to ride your bike? In the middle of Hongdae or Gangnam?


Yes, that's fine if you're close to the Han River and you want a leisurely cycle. If you actually intend to cycle to work and to the shops, and to meet your friends, it's not much use. I often used to walk along the Han river during my last year in Seoul, and before I became pregnant, I used to roller blade there too, but I didn't see anyone cycling back then. I haven't been back to Korea for more than 5 years, so my knowledge is out of date anyway. But in my 3 and a half years in Korea, I only saw someone riding a bicycle once. Some old guy in shabby clothes... I think cycling was seen as the preserve of the lower classes, and no-one wanted to be seen dead on a bike!

I wouldn't advise riding along the roads in Korea, except where you have access to lonely lanes. The driving is just dreadful, and I had a few very frightening moments on my moped, with drivers doing crazy stuff like turning corners but taking short cuts by driving across the wrong lane to get into the right lane.... nearly wiping me out once. Cycling is wonderful, but I don't think it's worth your life....

In China on the otherhand, the roads have a bike lane which is often fenced off from the main traffic. You have bike lights, and bike bridges and all sorts of infrastructure for bikes. You feel very safe on the roads. I rode my bike several hours a day there, just cycling to and for from work, and to meet up with friends, and to make trips to the markets. You can ride in the equivalent of Hongdae and Gangnam in China. There's provision for you to do so. I used to ride through the heart of Beijing every day at one point.

I once invited my Chinese collegues for a leisurely bike trip in the countryside. They came and admitted that they were amazed. They'd never thought of getting on a bike just for the pleasure of it. It was a new experience for them! They all had bikes and rode them every day, but they saw it in utilitarian terms - something to get to work on. I guess they had the opposite notion to you of what bikes are for.


I would agree that riding bikes in Seoul is dangerous, but its gotten a LOT better since when you were here 5 years ago.

I seen bike lanes on sidewalks in different areas of Seoul. The bike paths on the Han river have been renovated and the cycling community has grown significantly since 5 years ago.

In Korea 5 years is like 2 decades in other countries. I think your knowledge is a bit outdated.
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Big_Bird



Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Then can you answer the OPs question about whether you can rack your bike and board?
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exit86



Joined: 17 May 2006

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big Bird's description of China's bike culture sound so nice.
I do wish Korea had something like that. It has gotten much better
here in Seoul in terms of bike lanes and a growing bike culture, but it is only geared-up weekend warrior guys with the Kermit the Frog neoprene-esque full body bike suits and top-of-the-line rides that are carried over patches of mud or dirt in the path.

My wish is that it were more thorough here in Seoul. You'll have nice, one-way bike paths on one side of the street, but not on the other;
motorcycles/motorbikes riding in the bike-only lane; cars parking in the bike lane; etc. Seoul has yet to figure out how to make bicycle traffic
lanes/facilities for every day use, as opposed to how they are now--made more for recreation.

I think Seoul is getting there in this respect; but it may take a bit of time.
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chungbukdo



Joined: 22 Aug 2010

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is the name of that small city in Korea that is supposed to be the most bikeable place in the country? I heard they have bike paths everywhere and free bikes to borrow like in the Netherlands.

BTW This outlines some of Seoul's actions and plans wrt becoming more bike friendly http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/05/117_33188.html
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twilczynski



Joined: 22 Aug 2006

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Daegu is really bike-friendly. Even if there is no bike path, streets and pavements are so wide that you can just ride on them comfortably. I used to ride my bike everwhere I wanted to go to when I lived there. On the other hand, Seoul is terrible in this matter Surprised
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UknowsI



Joined: 16 Apr 2009

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

(North-West) Daejeon is relatively bike friendly. We have free (?) bikes you can borrow, most roads have separated bike/walking paths without many people on them. The river has separated paths for pedestrians and bikes. In the Daeddeok Science Town I would even say it's possible to bike quite fast, but you can generally only consider yourself a fast pedestrian and not anything close to a race biker. However, it's quite important to know the area well and know where you can bike properly and where it's too crowded. Choosing the long route can save you a lot of time if that means you get smooth pavement without many people.
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shifty



Joined: 21 Jun 2004

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big_Bird wrote:
I soon realised it was terribly dangerous given how Koreans drive, and the lack of bike lanes and the like.


Well, Changwon has designated bike lanes and this makes it even more dangerous, plain murderous.

The only way it'd work is to do away with Korean drivers.
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