I live in a country that has an excellent transportation system. As I ride my bike through the new cities that pop up around here, it’s notable that they’re programming busses into them as they build. Busses run in the center lanes of broad streets, unimpeded by cars that are parked or turning. People get to them by crossing halfway to large bus stop islands in the middle. It’s all very excellent, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll have no problem travelling just about anywhere in the country.
The bus system ties in beautifully with the subway/metro system too. The metro charges 1,250 KRW for anything within 10km, then 100 KRW for every 5km after that. But when you mix and match with the bus system, it’s all part of the same charge (as long as you catch the bus within 30 minutes of leaving the metro). So, for example, when I worked in Seoul I would take the express train after work, get off at Osan station, then walk out to the street to grab the 2 or 2-2 (it was never more than a few minutes’ wait). I could then continue my ride without being charged another 1,250 to start. And since my stop was just about at the 5km mark from Osan, it would only cost me 100 KRW for that last leg of the trip. Hop off the bus, and I’m less than a 10 minute walk from home.
Get used to it, and you can go just about anywhere. When I wanted to see the professional baseball team in Suwon (the KT Wiz) for a weeknight game, I could catch the 5:10 train north, get off and walk out exit 7 of Suwon Station to the bus plaza, grab bus 777, and 11 stops later I was at the stadium, not long after 6. Plenty of time to get my tickets, grab some squid, and be in my seat for the national anthem at 6:30. And I would just reverse the route on the way home. The whole route (one way) costs about two bucks.
Many city bus stops now have information telling you when the next bus is coming, or you can even get that info on your phone with an app. All very good. The only thing I wish they would do is put bike racks on the busses. Plus they only allow bikes on the metro on weekends and Korean holidays, and then only in the first and last cars. But I’ve considered, if I were to have a job in a major city around here, I’d invest in a Brompton (foldable bike) so I could use it as part of an overall commute. This would be the absolute dream commute system if I lived any more than 20 miles from my job. And it’s entirely possible in Korea, because busses run regularly to just about every nook and cranny of the country. I’ve come up on villages in the middle of nowhere on my bike rides and without fail there’s a bus stop nearby. And the busses that go there all aim for bigger hubs which aim for even bigger. It’s all connected. Yeah, it might take a little more time, but it’s there.
I’ve applauded Korea for its excellent transportation before. The praise still holds. The system here is top notch, and I wish cities like New York or LA would pay attention. It’s not that hard, and it’s a great investment, especially if you’re talking about serving the people who can’t afford cars. Isn’t that what we want to do?
Click here to see the NY Times article that brought these thoughts on. Give it a look:
the flaw of my folding bike is the small wheels make it less stable. Since I don’t ride much I need the gyroscope effect of bigger wheels
My Dahon folding bike is unstable too, especially at speeds over 10 MPH or so. In fact, my wife had a terrible wipe out coasting down a small grade when the fron wheel started to oscillate and she couldn’t correct in time. I still take it with me when I go downtown and use it to cruise the walkway along the St Johns river. As for my wife – she won’t get on it again.