By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

Jo Won-young, 32, cycles on weekends along the Han River with friends from his bicycle club. All he wants is to enjoy the sport he loves, but pedestrians keep getting in the way. Now, he can ride in peace.

Seoul City has separated the walking and bike paths along the Han River. “I feel more assured that I won’t go over to the footpath by mistake or the people won’t walk on the bike path,” Jo said.

Seoul started dividing the bike and walking paths in October 2007 and the 69.9-kilometer-long work will be completed this year at a cost of 13.2 billion won ($11 million).

Different methods of construction have been applied to each section, making the most of the Han’s natural scenery.

In addition to separating the bike path and promenade, the city expanded its bicycle trails to the borders between Guri, Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, and Hanam and Seoul.

Both are set to be finished by October. The local government also plans to rebuild five bridges with bike paths, including the Seongnae Stream Bridge.

To provide a safer environment, the city will put up road signs along bike paths, footpaths and pedestrians crossings.

“We expect the riverside to transform into a convenient and pleasant resting place for both pedestrians and bicycle riders,” Chang Jung-woo of the Han River Project Headquarters said. “Riverbanks will become a heaven for bicycling enthusiasts and a green transportation network.”

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr