Korean Job Discussion Forums

[red_devil]

I haven't seen very many people on bikes around Gangnam. I know it's a car dominated area, and you have buses and taxis and even scooters but i'm curious why there aren't many people using bikes. Even while traveling to other parts of Seoul i don't see many people on bikes. There are people biking on the pathway down near the river or the hardcore ones all dolled up like they're taking on the Tour de France but other than that none. Very curious.

Been awhile since i looked at bikes and checked out Trek and Giants...DANG people are selling used bikes for 2-3Mil! The prices sure have gone up...

[Joe Boxer]

I think that any cyclist trying to share the roads with Korean drivers should get his head examined (before he has to, post-mortem).

[andrewchon]

Bicycles are popular in smaller cities that supports bikers with bike paths and parking places.

[young_clinton]

Go ahead, bike at your own risk. I wouldn't. Isn't Korea supposed to have the worst drivers of all the countries ranked? I've seen Korean driving first hand from riding in some of the Korean teachers cars.

[red_devil]

Bike on the sidewalk? I know it's supposedly illegal but do people follow that rule? Scooters don't.

[shifty]

[technique]

[BigBuds]

I go for a ride most weekends for fitness and always stick to the sidewalks.

I live in Changwon which has bike lanes and usually some *beep* has parked his car/motorcycle/scooter across or in it completely blocking it. I usually leave a big luggie on their windscreen/seat in thanks as I go past them .

[zeppelin]

I'm a road cyclist, not a racer or anything like it. I do occasional touring and I do wear cycling clothes for comfort and convenience (obviously not for a ride of less than an hour).

I've been riding for 6 years in Korea. Riding in the fast, busy roads leading out of the city can be unpleasant and Korean drivers do pass a bit too close and too fast for comfort. The intercity buses let you take your bike in the luggage compartment so sometimes I just take a bus to the first country town and start from there.

Once you clear the city there are actually lots of nice roads for cycling if you don't mind hills.

I've seen a huge increase in younger Koreans riding the last few years due to the popularity of those folding bikes with tiny wheels and what look like white fixed hybrids with red or green wheels.

I'm happy to ride on the roads and agree that cycle paths would be more dangerous - Korean drivers pay scant attention to the rules of the road pertaining to cars let alone a bike path suddenly joining the road.

I use my bike to get around the city where I live. I use the road, some pavements and cycle paths and the designated cycling road along the river that bisects the city. To be honest I find the pedestrians more unpredictable and unaware than the cars so I prefer the road.

Never expect any special consideration from a Korean motorist. Ride defensively and don't be bullied into the gutter where you have nowhere to go if things get ugly.

[orangepostit]

[Savant]

[runthegauntlet]

I live in Changwon as well.

I've had a bike here for a couple of years now and haven't had any problems.

The experience can be a bit harrowing at times but really, I haven't had any actual problems. It's certainly not something I'd recommend a new rider to attempt, but if you've had much experience on a bike and can keep your focus it shouldn't be that bad. It's actually faster for me to get around on a bike than it is in a bus, sometimes to the tune of 20 minutes over just 10k.

I've even kitted up with lights and ridden across town at night.

I also find it to be fairly exciting, plus I've never been harassed like I've been in the States

[runthegauntlet]

[shifty]

I'll never know how I made it out of Changwon alive.

In the mornings I used to train on the bike on a carefully chosen for safety route. Even then I had many hair-raising moments.

Then I rode to work and back, about a 16km roundtrip. Coming back at night was always an adventure. Korean pedestrians like to hog the bike lane and enter it without thought of a cursory common sense look behind.

Bellowing 'YAA!!" was a waste of breath and I'd judge to a nicety clipping them with my elbow as I went past at unabated speed.

Often they'd walk two abreast which did nothing for my mental health, since I was then defeated, but sometimes I could take to the street if there was a convenient opening.

However for those that walked two abreast toward me, I'd offer no word of warning. I got to realise that they'd seen me coming and now feigned deep conversation with inclined heads. At last moment they'd scramble as I whistled through.

I was often tempted to boot over the motor cycles so contemptuously parked and blocking the bike lane, even for the errant pedestrians. A bit later I was always glad that I hadn't, and not getting embroiled in a no-win game and wasting my time.

It's no good riding over-defensively since that brings its own dangers. If you are skilled it helps, of course.

Changwon and the bicycle; not recommended for those who want to die in their beds.

[runthegauntlet]