Gumi City Accelerates as a 'Model Bicycle City'... Selected for 2 Billion Won Public Project

Ministry of the Interior and Safety Selects 'Model Bicycle City Project'

Four Locations Including Gumi City Chosen Among 28 Local Governments Nationwide

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province has been finally selected for the “Bicycle Model City Contest Project” hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Kim Jangho, mayor of Gumi, commuting by bicycle.

With this selection, the city plans to invest a total of 2 billion KRW, including 500 million KRW in national funds over three years, to significantly increase the usage rate of bicycles, a low-carbon and non-motorized means of transportation.

The goal of this project is to establish bicycles as a major mode of transportation and to spread successful cases nationwide. A total of 28 local governments across the country applied for the contest, undergoing document and presentation evaluations. Gumi City, with the strong commitment of Mayor Kim Jangho, was selected as one of the final four local governments.

The cities selected as Bicycle Model Cities are Gumi City and Yeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province, Gwangsan District in Gwangju, and Gochang County in North Jeolla Province.

Through this project, the city will build bicycle infrastructure and enhance safety in the Songjeong-dong and Hyeonggok-dong areas, while also promoting various measures to activate usage.

In the infrastructure sector, 100 public bicycles will be introduced, and a bicycle portal will be established. In addition, 15 stations will be set up at key locations, along with the installation of CCTV to prevent theft.

▲ In the safety enhancement sector, the city will reorganize bicycle paths, resolve disconnected sections, and install signs, crossings, and traffic lights. ▲ In the usage activation sector, a “Bicycle Day” will be operated, and the “3go” bicycle app will be developed to encourage bicycle use by awarding carbon-neutral points.

3go (Ride a bike go! Stay healthy go! Earn points go!) provides incentives for riding 100 km per month (4 km per day).

Carbon-neutral points will be given to public bicycle users at a rate of 10 KRW per kilometer, with a maximum of 70,000 KRW per year.

Going forward, the city will receive advice from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Bicycle Model City Consulting Team, begin basic and detailed design starting in 2025, and complete the project by 2027, officially declaring itself a “Bicycle Model City” on April 22, 2027, Bicycle Day.

Mayor Kim Jangho stated, “We will create a commuting environment utilizing bicycles and realize door-to-door mobility, setting an exemplary case for other local governments,” adding, “By expanding the base of bicycle transportation, we aim to practice carbon neutrality and also help resolve parking difficulties,” expressing strong determination for bicycle promotion.

Gumi City is pursuing various projects to promote bicycle usage, including ▲ installing public bicycle rental stations at Dongrak Park and Nakdonggang Sports Park ▲ operating a Two-Wheel Safety Inspection Team to improve bicycle facilities and roads ▲ running a mobile bicycle repair center to increase repair accessibility ▲ providing bicycle insurance to reduce the burden of accidents ▲ offering safety education to improve bicycle awareness ▲ and holding a bicycle parade to foster unity among citizens and bicycle enthusiasts.

Bicycle Model City Project Plan Map.