Gov't to promote bicycle commuters

By Lee Hyo-sik

The government is to officially designate bicycles as a means of transportation to boost the number of riders and create a green transportation system less dependent on crude oil and other fossil fuels.

Under the current law, automobiles, airplanes, ships and trains that burn fossil fuels to transport people or cargo are defined as means of transportation. When the bicycle is legally recognized, the government will be able to expand investment to build more bike lanes and other infrastructure catering to cyclists.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said Sunday that it plans to have the National Integrated Transport System Efficiency Law revised by the end of the year in order to add bicycles to the list of means of transportation.

``Most advanced countries state bikes are a method of transportation. In some nations, bicycles account for nearly 60 percent of passenger transport needs on the back of extensive bike-friendly laws and infrastructure,’’ a ministry official said. ``The government plans to build more bike paths and establish a sharing system among cyclists in urban areas, as well as provide financial assistance to cyclists transferring to public transit.’’

The government has largely viewed bicycles as a means for leisure activities. The Lee Myung-bak administration has built nationwide bike tracks stretching nearly 600 kilometers along the country’s four major rivers to increase bike ridership.

At times, it tried to encourage commuters to ride to work in a bid to ease traffic congestion and cut the consumption of fossil fuels. However, such promotional campaign for urban residents has failed due to inadequate bike infrastructure.

Additionally, the ministry plans to strengthen the rights of pedestrians and construct more walkways in cities.

``We need a comprehensive green transport system encompassing bicycles, walkways and public transport to discourage the use of private vehicles in cities,’’ the official said. ``To do so, the government needs more people to ride bikes and walk in urban areas.’’

The ministry said if the protection of pedestrian rights is bolstered, for instance, private apartment complexes won’t be able to block non-residents from walking through their premises.

It plans to hire a research center specializing in public transportation to conduct a feasibility study on such changes. It will then hold consultation meetings with concerned government agencies and a series of public hearings before drawing up the final revisions.