Seoul City Opens 'Cheonggyecheon Bicycle-Only Road' Connecting East-West Axis of Downtown

Cheonggye Plaza~Gosanja Bridge 11.88km Round Trip Opens on 31st... Completely Separated Independent Space from Road
East-West Core Axis Connecting Downtown~Jungnangcheon~Hangang Completed... Expected to Boost Bicycle Use for Commuting and More

Bicycle-Only Lane Improvement Sections (South Side Cheonggye 7-ga to Gosan Overpass, North Side Cheonggye Plaza to Cheonggye 2-ga, Cheonggye 7-ga to Gosan Overpass)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A 'bicycle-only road' has opened, allowing cyclists to ride smoothly from the urban landmark Cheonggye Plaza along the Cheonggyecheon stream to Gosan Bridge in Dongdaemun-gu (near Yongdu Station on Line 2).

On the 31st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that a core east-west bicycle axis has been completed, enabling cyclists to speed along a safe bike path completely separated from the roadway up to Gosan Bridge, and from there, use the already established Cheonggyecheon lower stream and Jungnangcheon bicycle paths to reach Ttukseom on the Han River in one continuous route. This will allow people to enjoy urban riding amid the full bloom of spring flowers and grass scents, and also make commuting easier for the increasing number of 'Jachuljok' (people commuting by bicycle) since COVID-19.

According to the usage status of Seoul's public bicycle system, Ddareungi, the usage rate during commuting hours increased by 20.46% in the morning and 93.33% in the evening compared to the previous year due to the spread of COVID-19 last year.

Seoul officially opened the 'Cheonggyecheon Bicycle-Only Road' on this day. The 'Cheonggyecheon Bicycle Road' is one of the main arterial networks in the 'Core Network Promotion Plan for Bicycle-Only Roads,' which aims to build a total of 23.3 km of east-west, north-south bicycle arteries throughout Seoul, and it is the first section to be completed. The city explained that to minimize citizen inconvenience and traffic congestion caused by construction, they divided the construction period by sections and focused on construction during day and night shifts to complete the bicycle road quickly.

The 'Cheonggyecheon Bicycle-Only Road' was constructed along the straight section of Cheonggyecheon-ro from Cheonggye Plaza to Gosan Bridge (5.94 km). It is a circular urban bicycle-only road with a total length of 11.88 km running in both directions on either side of Cheonggyecheon.

Considering the mixed characteristics of Cheonggyecheon-ro, where vehicles, tourists, and working spaces coexist, Seoul focused on building an independent bicycle road completely separated from the roadway without reducing the existing road lanes. This was to ensure cyclists can ride safely and merchants' working spaces for their livelihoods are not disturbed.

Since road conditions and situations vary by section, customized construction was another feature. From Cheonggye 5-ga to Gosan Bridge (north side), the existing 'bicycle-only lane' on the roadway was raised to the same level as the sidewalk to separate it from the road. From Cheonggye 2-ga to Cheonggye 7-ga (south side), there was originally a 'bicycle priority road,' but by relocating street trees that were on the safety passage, space was secured and it was converted into a 'bicycle-only road.' The safety passage installed above Cheonggyecheon is operated to allow citizens using the lower pedestrian path along Cheonggyecheon to evacuate via emergency ladders in case of sudden heavy rain or other emergencies.

Every detail was carefully considered to ensure both cyclists and pedestrians can use the road safely. The slopes were made as gentle as possible and anti-slip pavement was applied to secure safety and rideability. Over 30 LED signs were installed at entrances to each section to greatly improve visibility during nighttime. The adjacent old pedestrian paths were also renovated to reduce inconvenience for pedestrians. At intersections, the bicycle road entrances and exits were lowered to allow bicycles to detour, preventing collisions with pedestrians.

To encourage local merchants and visitors to actively use the infrastructure around Cheonggyecheon following the opening of the bicycle-only road, customized landscaping design was also applied. Colorful flowering plants were planted in Cheonggye Plaza and commercial areas where festivals and cultural events are frequently held to add vitality and liveliness. Residential areas preserved the existing natural forms to maintain resting functions. Cheonggye Plaza, where various festivals are held, expanded the sidewalk space, and the bicycle road in this area was designed with a wave pattern symbolizing Cheonggyecheon.

Baek Ho, Director of Urban Transportation at Seoul City, said, "With the completion of the Cheonggyecheon bicycle road, connections extend eastward along Cheonggyecheon and Jungnangcheon to the Han River and the southeastern and northeastern regions, and westward, the Seoul bicycle arterial road network connecting Gwanghwamun, Sejong-daero, and Hangang-daero to the Han River has begun to take shape. We hope citizens using the Cheonggyecheon bicycle road will follow quarantine rules and participate in the opening ceremony to regain vitality in body and mind."

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