By Peter Hong
Korea Times Intern
A total of 60 kilometers of cycle paths will be constructed along 21 streets and roads across the country with an outlay of 24 billion won this year, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security reported Monday.
They are a nationwide pilot project that consists of 40 kilometers along 13 urban streets and 20 kilometers at eight tourist attractions.
Among the 13 paths for urban commuters are the street between Cheonggye Stream and Cheonho Boulevard in Seoul, the section between Bangu Intersection and Yeompo T-junction in the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan, and between Seo Cheongju IC and Osong in North Chungcheong Province.
The eight paths at tourist attractions for leisure cyclists include the street between Centum City and Haeundae Beach in Busan, the road between Sejwa-ri and Jongdal-ri in Gujwa-eup via scenic Seongsan Sunrise Peak on Jeju Island's east coast, and the road between the beaches of Yeongok and Hyangho in Gangneung, Gangwon Province.
A ministry spokesman said that the government will build more cycle paths for commuters next year, while introducing a ``U(biquitous)-Bike System,'' along with the construction of bike parking stations.
Under the nationwide U-Bike System to be initiated by the government, anyone can rent a bicycle at a non-manned parking station with a bike card, ride and then return the bike to the same or different station, the spokesman explained. The system will also enable riders to transfer to nearby buses and subways.
Meanwhile, the central government plans to build cycle paths along a total of 3,114 kilometers of roads across the country at a cost of 1.25 trillion won through 2018. They will then be linked to urban cycle paths for commuters built by local governments.