By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Seoul residents will be encouraged to leave their cars at home and use public transport on Sept. 22 to give the city a day free of cars.
Even though it will only be a one-day event, Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) hopes it will help increase public awareness of the importance of environmental protection.
``What we're trying to do is to create an eco-friendly city for pedestrians not cars,'' Mayor Oh Se-hoon said. ``I suggest that citizens leave their cars and use public transport at least on that day.''
Seoul launched the annual ``Car-Free Day'' in 2006 as part of a campaign to make the city cleaner and ease traffic congestion. The city will close government parking lots and shut down major downtown thoroughfares, while offering free early morning bus rides and holding various cultural events.
Participation in the campaign is not mandatory, but, cars will be banned from the 2.8-kilometer Jongno Street, which crosses the city from Sejongro Street to Dongdaemun Gate, and the 1.3-kilometer Cheonggye Stream Road, which stretches from Cheonggye Plaza to Cheonggye 3-ga. Those who want to travel by car will have to make a detour by taking northern and southern roads in the city.
The two major roads will be closed to cars from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., and only buses will be allowed to use them. Buses and subway trains will be available free of charge until 9 a.m. for commuters.
SMG will also offers street performances and a parade with the participation of over 2,000 bicycle riders. There will be a photo exhibition featuring the car-free streets and eco-friendly transport.
According to the city government, about 3 million personal cars are registered in Seoul, making the capital infamous for its traffic congestion and air pollution. About 80 percent travel in central Seoul with 80 percent of those containing only a single person.
Seoul city is upgrading the infrastructure for bicycle riders, by constructing bike-only lanes and introducing bike rental programs.
On top of expanding infrastructure, experts called for the government to hold campaigns and educational sessions to let people know the benefits of bicycle riding.
``I think it is important to offer citizens a better environment by building special lanes for bicycles where they can enjoy riding bikes, and adopting some foreign country's successful programs,'' Lee Jun-woo, director of the Korean Federation for Bicycles Movement.
``But such hardware-focused approaches have failed to encourage citizens to ride bikes. What we need is our own programs that can help citizens enjoy riding in a safer and easier way, making it a part of our culture, and that will naturally lead people to create a better environment for riders,'' he said.