Paju-si Ranks First in Province for '2024 Bicycle Use Promotion Policy Evaluation'

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 23rd that it won the top prize, the Grand Prize, ranking first in the province in the ‘2024 Bicycle Use Activation Policy Evaluation’ hosted by Gyeonggi Province.

Paju-si, Ranked 1st in the Province for the '2024 Bicycle Usage Promotion Policy Evaluation'. Photo by Paju-si

This evaluation was conducted targeting 31 cities and counties within Gyeonggi Province to discover and spread excellent policies for promoting bicycle use and to encourage local governments' enthusiasm for policy development.

Paju City was recognized for its achievement in introducing a shared bicycle operation system this year and was selected as the ‘Best Institution,’ being evaluated as a model case for promoting bicycle use.

In response to increasing complaints about shared bicycles being left unattended and obstructing traffic, Paju City signed a business agreement with shared bicycle operators in 2023 and has been seeking systematic operational support measures. In particular, to resolve citizen inconveniences caused by unauthorized parking and illegal parking, ‘Parking Zones’ were installed mainly in areas with high usage.

Additionally, to prevent bicycle accidents among children and spread proper traffic safety awareness, ‘Visiting Children's Bicycle Safety Education’ was conducted. A mobile bicycle experience center was set up to allow students to train under conditions similar to actual road environments, and satisfaction surveys showed that over 95% of participants were satisfied. However, reflecting opinions that ‘more diverse education would be appreciated,’ Paju City plans to secure a budget in 2025 to expand various programs.

Going forward, Paju City plans to establish the legally mandated ‘Bicycle Use Activation Plan’ and continuously increase bicycle usage rates through systematic policies such as expanding bicycle infrastructure.

Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City, stated, “This top award in the bicycle use activation policy is an achievement created together by citizens and administration,” and added, “We will continuously create an environment where anyone can safely and conveniently use bicycles according to the future bicycle activation plan.”

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