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Cyclists will be able to ride their bicycles on major roads in Seoul without interruption, park them at subway stations, and even take a shower under a plan the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday for 207 km-long cycle paths in the capital.
The cycle paths are to link 17 main boulevards (200 km) and one downtown beltway (7 km) by 2012 under the "road diet" principle, reducing the number of lanes in major roads. Kim Sang-bum, chief of the Seoul city government office of urban traffic, said the city will reduce danger by laying road bumps, setting up safety signboards, and building safety fences.
The city expects that it will be possible to save W547.5 billion (US$1=W1,320) a year due to increased use of bicycles and less use of cars and reduced pollution. It estimates the ratio of bicycle commuters will increase from this year's 1.6 percent to 4.4 percent in 2012, 7.6 percent in 2016, and 10 percent in 2020.
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An artist's impression of a bicycle elevator at a Han River bridge in Seoul
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Crossing bridges over the Han River by bicycle will be easier when bicycle elevators or sloping ramps will be built for seven bridges -- Gayang, Seongsu, Seogang, Mapo, Jamsu, Hannam, Cheonho bridges.
New buildings where cyclists can park or leave their bikes in custody or can rent bicycles or have them repaired will be built at four subway stations, including Suyu and Sindorim, where more than 500 bicycles are parked. There will be bicycle parking lots at 16 other subway stations accommodating more than 300 bicycles. They will be furnished with shower rooms and lockers so cyclists can wash before they get on the subway.
The city will also revise laws and regulations to give traffic tax deductions to owners of buildings with bicycle parking facilities and require car drivers to use caution for the safety of cyclists.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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