Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Begins Full-Scale Transformation into a 'Bicycle-Friendly City'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City is focusing on expanding safe and convenient bicycle infrastructure to promote the use of bicycles, an eco-friendly mode of transportation.

To develop bicycle policies suited to Gwangsan-gu's circumstances and propose management plans, the district is independently conducting a basic plan establishment project for bicycle use activation. A roadmap to become a bicycle-friendly city is scheduled to be presented at the final report meeting in May.

Efforts are also accelerating to create a safe and pleasant bicycle infrastructure environment for residents through the construction and maintenance of bicycle roads.

First, a dedicated bicycle road 2.6 km long and 3 m wide is being newly constructed on the left bank of Pungyeongjeongcheon, a representative urban stream in Gwangsan-gu, with the goal of completion this year.

In the Pyeongdong Industrial Complex, the construction of a "lifestyle bicycle road" is underway. A total of 4.2 km of bicycle roads will be newly built, focusing on areas with active bicycle commuting such as migrant workers, to create a safe bicycle commuting environment.

The Yeongsangang and Hwangryonggang bicycle roads, known as Gwangju's bicycle "highways," will also be maintained. This project connects a 1.4 km bicycle road along the right bank of the Yeongsangang River from the confluence with Pungyeongjeongcheon to Deokheung Bridge, with detailed design expected to begin as early as May.

Improvements across all bicycle roads in Gwangsan-gu are being carried out simultaneously. Gwangsan-gu has a total of 93 bicycle routes spanning 235 km, accounting for one-third of all bicycle roads in Gwangju. The district plans to repair aged or damaged sections to create a safe and convenient bicycle environment.

Through the landscape improvement project of Sangmu-daero, the access road to Gwangju Songjeong Station, infrastructure such as a 1.3 km dedicated bicycle road will be developed from Gwangju Subway Gonghang Station to Geungnakgyo Bridge.

Additionally, to ensure safe bicycle use by citizens, bicycle insurance services will be operated again this year for all residents, following last year's initiative.

A Gwangsan-gu official stated, "We are promoting various infrastructure expansions and maintenance projects to create 'Gwangsan, a great place to ride bicycles,' where citizens can safely and conveniently use bicycles anytime and anywhere," adding, "We will actively support the activation of green transportation that protects both health and the environment."

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