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The city of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province has decided to give a W30,000 allowance a month to each bicycle commuter (US$1=W1,045). If they work for companies located within the city perimeter, citizens of Changwon will be entitled to the allowance if they commute by bicycle for more than 15 days a month.
Their companies will confirm if their employees have commuted by bicycle and apply for allowances on their behalf. The Changwon city government revised the relevant ordinance in April, and has since been working out detailed rules to implement it. The new policy will go into force in July or August, when the city secures the needed W3 billion budget.
Changwon city predicts that about 10,000 bicycle commuters in the city will benefit. Changwon will be the first Korean city to reward bicycle commuting. If many workers make it a habit to commute by bicycle, it will be possible to reduce gasoline consumption, turn the parking lots at workplaces into spaces for production, and improve the urban environment and promote public health, the city hopes.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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