KOTI - Korea Transport institute

Environment problems such as ineffectiveness of urban transport, climate change, and energy depletion deteriorate around the world. To overcome these problems, many cities try to introduce policies that will enforce the usage of green transport modes such as walking and bicycling. The bicycle remains to be the transport mode recognized as very effective. The policies include the increase use of bicycle; the best and most effective policy however is the construction of bicycle facilities such as bicycle lanes and parking lots. The national bicycle road project is planned by the central government, particularly the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (MOPAS). This is a large-scale project constructing a nationwide bicycle road, □, during the period 2010~2019. After the implementation of the National Bicycle Road Project, the national bicycle road will be connected to the other bicycle roads such as the four rivers bicycle road and the local government's bicycle road. Because the national bicycle road project is implemented by the central government, it can establish a solid foundation to progress the policy for increasing bicycle use. When considering the importance of the national bicycle road project, it should be implemented with efficiency and effectiveness. With this background, the outcome of constructing a national bicycle road for 52 local governments is assessed in this study. In 2011, 52 local governments have constructed a national bicycle road. First, the assessment index for the national bicycle road is developed considering the characteristics involved in the national bicycle road project: simplicity and quantization of index, rational scoring of index, and strength of bicycle users. As a result, the assessment index is divided three parts: plan (score 18), management (score 27), and performance (55 score). Three parts are later categorized with 19 indexes in detail. Three indicators of the 19 indicators are additional points, and they have 13 points. Thus, the possible maximum score is 113. The outcome of 52 local governments has been assessed by an assessment committee composed of the central government. An average score of 52 local governments is 78, and this means a score of 69 with a maximum 100 points. However, scores are different from each local government, from 43 to 102 points. This means that the local government’s knowledge, applied method, and experience for constructing a national bicycle road have to be shared and distributed. In the view of first indicator (plan), securing budget and collaboration with the related organization are well done. On the contrary, to survey before starting a construction is not sufficient. In the view of the second indicator (management), budget expenditure and monitoring are well fulfilled by almost every local government. In the view of the last indicator, (performance), guaranteeing safety and diurnal of bicycle users is not enough. The result of the assessment on national bicycle road in this study can provide many implications on the effective and efficient progress of the national bicycle road project. Outstanding cases of higher-level local government should be disseminated to the lower-level local government. In sharing knowledge and experience about the national bicycle road construction, it can be possible to increase bicycle usage. However, the current assessment index does not include the full performance with regard to the bicycle demand and satisfaction of bicycle users. Therefore, reviewing and revising a few assessment indicators is needed for the assessment of year 2012. In the near future, a symbolic and functional bicycle road can play an important role in creating convenience and safety in the environment and among bicycle users in Korea