Seoul City Receives Presidential Citation for Excellence in Promoting Bicycle Use

Nationwide First, Collaboration with Private Companies to Establish Online and Offline Sales Network for Recycled Bicycles

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] On the 26th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it received the Presidential Citation in the '2022 Excellent Organization for Promoting Bicycle Use' contest hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

This Presidential Citation was awarded in recognition of various achievements to promote bicycle use, including revitalizing abandoned bicycle restoration, actively expanding bicycle lanes, stabilizing public bicycle usage, and implementing bicycle safety education.

Collaborating with the bicycle secondhand trading platform (online marketplace) Light Brothers, Seoul became the first in the nation to start selling restored bicycles through private sales networks from January this year. In September, they partnered with Lotte Mart to set up a pop-up store at the Songpa branch and delivered 1,000 restored bicycles to vulnerable groups to realize companionship with the disadvantaged.

To establish a one-hour bicycle living zone within Seoul, the city formulated the 2021-2025 Bicycle Lane Network Construction Plan in July last year. In 2022, they constructed the Cheonggyecheon-ro bicycle arterial road and are promoting the expansion of 194.42 km of bicycle lanes by 2026.

As a result of various efforts such as expanding infrastructure, enhancing convenience, and strengthening safety to enable all Seoul citizens to use public bicycles safely and conveniently, the cumulative number of uses surpassed 100 million in April this year.

Additionally, bicycle safety education reflecting the diverse needs of Seoul citizens, including children, students, and adults, has been continuously conducted. Over the past five years (2018 to September 2022), approximately 730,000 citizens have received education, contributing to the spread of bicycle safety culture.

Baek Ho, Director of Urban Transportation at Seoul City, said, “This Presidential Citation for the excellent organization promoting bicycle use is a recognition of Seoul’s consistent efforts,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to create an environment where citizens can use bicycles more safely and conveniently.”