Is There a Reason Nowon-gu Became a 'Bicycle City'?

March 1 Automatic Enrollment of District Residents in 'Bicycle Insurance', 3,259 People Covered by 2023, Total Payments Over 1.8 Billion KRW
Free Bicycle Steam Cleaning Service Receives High Satisfaction from Residents... Three Locations Operated
June Groundbreaking of Seoul's First Bicycle Culture Center, a Complex Cultural Hub to Promote Bicycle Use

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is making efforts to build various bicycle infrastructures to participate in carbon neutrality practices and to ensure the safety and convenience of bicycle users.

According to the Seoul City Urban Policy Indicator Survey, Nowon-gu ranks first among Seoul’s autonomous districts in bicycle usage rate, with the number of bicycle users increasing every year. Additionally, many cities worldwide are adopting bicycle-friendly policies, as riding a bicycle instead of a small or medium-sized passenger car can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 17 kg per 100 km.

The district is promoting various policies to participate in this era of carbon neutrality and to create a safe and bicycle-friendly environment for the increasing number of bicycle users.

First, free bicycle insurance enrollment for Nowon-gu residents. In 2015, Nowon-gu became the first district in Seoul to start enrolling all residents in bicycle insurance. Anyone registered as a resident in Nowon-gu or who rents one of the 191 public bicycles in Nowon-gu can receive insurance benefits. By 2023, a total of 3,259 people have received insurance payments totaling over 1.8 billion KRW.

The 'Nowon-gu Bicycle School' is also continuously operated to spread bicycle usage culture. It runs every year from March to November (except August), providing education on bicycle safety rules and proper riding methods to help even those who find it difficult to ride a bicycle easily access it. Registration is available online through the Nowon-gu Office website.

The operation of bicycle steam cleaners is another policy highly appreciated by users. Using steam cleaners, dust and various contaminants on bicycles are cleaned without detergents, minimizing environmental pollution. Nowon-gu residents can use this service free of charge without a separate reservation, and it is available for regular bicycles as well as mountain and children’s bicycles. Over one year (operating period from March 2023 to November 2023), 8,034 people used the service.

In June, the district will begin construction of Seoul’s first Bicycle Culture Center, scheduled for completion in September 2025. The four-story building will include ▲1st floor: Bicycle Information Center ▲2nd floor: Miniature Bicycle Exhibition Cafe ▲3rd floor: VR Bicycle Experience Hall ▲4th floor: Multipurpose Education Hall, and ▲Rooftop Garden: a healing space with a panoramic view of Danghyeoncheon Stream. The Bicycle Culture Center is planned as a complex cultural space to promote bicycle use, where residents can experience bicycles in various ways.

Meanwhile, last November, the district received favorable reviews for operating a bicycle experience zone during the '1st Car-Free Street Festival,' the first carbon-zero challenge event held by a Seoul autonomous district.

At the '2nd Car-Free Street Festival' scheduled for April this year, bicycle experience events such as the Turtle Bicycle Race, balance bicycle experience, unique bicycle exhibition, and bicycle generator experience will be held, bringing residents one step closer to feeling the bicycle-friendly city.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "One of the easiest ways for individuals to participate in carbon neutrality in response to the climate change crisis is by using bicycles," adding, "We will continue to strive to develop various policies for a bicycle-friendly Nowon-gu where residents can use bicycles safely and conveniently, and for a carbon-neutral Nowon-gu by 2050."