Starting Tomorrow, Bicycles Allowed on Seoul Subway Line 7

Allowed from 10 AM to 4 PM on weekdays for two months from September to October
Riding possible after traveling by subway from Seoul to Chuncheon... Pilot operation of bus portable boarding also underway

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Starting next month, bicycles will be allowed on Seoul Subway Line 7 not only on weekends and holidays but also on weekdays.

Seoul City announced on the 31st that it will officially begin a two-month pilot operation of 'weekday bicycle carriage on the subway' from September 1 to October 31. Based on a survey of 4,225 Seoul citizens and considering subway congestion levels, Line 7 was selected as the pilot operation target.

Bicycle carriage is permitted only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to prevent congestion during rush hours. Passengers can use the first and last cars of the subway where bicycle racks are installed or where there is available space. However, folding bicycles, which take up less space, can be carried at any time regardless of the day or subway line.

In particular, during this period, a 'weekday bicycle carriage pilot project' will also be conducted on the Gyeongchun Line (KORAIL) between Sangbong and Chuncheon, allowing passengers to travel by subway with bicycles from Seoul to Chuncheon. Riders can take Line 7 to Sangbong Station, transfer to the Gyeongchun Line, and then travel to Chuncheon to enjoy riding.

Before the full-scale pilot operation, Seoul City completed facility improvements to minimize inconvenience to subway users by installing bicycle ramps at six major hub stations: Daerim, Isu, Junggye, Hakdong, Banpo, and Jangseungbaegi stations. They also installed illustrated guideboards to thoroughly separate the flow of bicycle users and general passengers. Additionally, posters and announcements within subway stations inform passengers about the pilot operation routes and usage times, as well as the locations of exits with bicycle ramps and transfer parking lots.

The city plans to collect feedback from subway users and citizens during the pilot operation and, after consultations with other subway operators and related agencies, consider expanding the program to other lines.

Seoul City has been promoting the establishment of a 'bicycle-friendly city' in various ways even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought bicycles to the forefront as a daily transportation mode. Following the pilot operation of taxis equipped with bicycle racks in July, it is expected that once bicycle carriage on city buses is piloted soon, the connectivity between public transportation and bicycles will be significantly enhanced.

Hwang Bo-yeon, Director of Urban Transportation at Seoul City, said, "Bicycles are rapidly emerging as a 'contactless' transportation mode favored in the post-COVID era. In line with Seoul's 'Green New Deal' policy to respond to the climate crisis and the global trend of bicycle-friendly cities, we will expand related infrastructure and strengthen the connection between transportation modes to establish bicycles as an eco-friendly daily transportation option."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.