▲ Photo by Jung Yong ak

[Click here for The Weekly's guide to cycling on Jeju Island. - Ed.]

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province will invest 6.3 billion won this year in improving 68 km of bike lane along the island’s coastal Iljuro and Haeandoro roads. The investment is part of the government’s National Bike Road Bicycle Master Plan: 2010 - 2015 and includes additional infrastructure development for local bike users.

Seoul has provided 32.9 billion won in funds so far and constructed 205.2㎞ of cycle paths. 20.4 billion won has been invested since 2013 with 70㎞ of cycle lanes constructed and this year’s expansion will see Gosan and Shinchang and Ilgwa and Sindo connected with bike paths including the painting of paths and installation of sign posts.

By 2015 10 bicycle certification centers will be developed and from 2015 bike-tour courses will link up with existing Olle trails in order to increase the number of cyclists by offering certification for completion of the courses.

In an effort to promote everyday bicycle use among residents, the province will also offer free garbage bags to residents who cycle to public service centers. An urban bike path system trial zone to link residential areas with schools, shopping malls, and markets will also be developed.

Cycling infrastructure has up to now focused on the inner urban areas sections with less attention on connections between residential areas. This investment will thus target east-west connections to improve links between residential areas, tourist sites and beaches.

A reduction in carbon emissions through developing a a green cycle network is a key goal in the province’s bid to be World Environmental Capital 2020.