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Busan Subway to allow bicycles on board

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Busan Metropolitan City announced a plan to allow bicycles on subways as part of its campaign to encourage bike riding. The service began unofficially on August 23, and is in operation between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on certain sections of Subway Line No. 3. This service is in response to increasing citizen demands and promotes bicycle riding as part of the national Low Carbon Green Growth campaign.

Despite the steady increase in bicycle usage in Busan, it is difficult to reach the downtown by bicycle because of the many mountainous districts in Busan. Therefore, the ability to carry bicycles on the subway is expected to contribute tremendously to bicycle usage in the city.

The subway is one of the most important public transport modes and conveys almost 800,000 passengers per day. In the past, riding a bicycle in the subway has long been prohibited in the interests of passenger safety, and to prevent interference with transit operations and possible damage to facilities. However, as a result of the city’s consideration of increased citizen demands, bicycles will be allowed to be carried in the subway in future.

Before the official launch of the plan, on September 6, the City did a test run of its plan on Line No. 3 until August 31, and then fixed problems arising during its operation. The screen doors (which prevent accidental falls onto the platform), the elevators and the gates for the handicapped on Line No. 3 will make bicycle access easy.

In addition, the Nakdong River area (Daejeo, Sports Park, Gangseo-gu District Office, Gupo Station) where a bicycle lane has been made, and the Suyeong River (Mangmi Station) and Sports Complex (Sajik Sports Complex Station) areas of the city, which are equipped with sports recreational facilities, are all served by stations on Line No. 3, and this will maximize the plan’s operational efficiency.

Currently, passengers are allowed to carry bicycles in the front and rear cars only, and only on Sundays and holidays. There has been no remodeling of subway cars for bicycles.

After obtaining citizens’ feedback, the city will expand its plan to Saturdays and to weekdays and also to Lines No. 1 and 2, but bikes will still be banned during rush hour.