Cycling Catching on in South Korea
Seoul's streets are a traffic-clogged melee of taxis, commuters and scootering delivery boys--a place where rules appear to be absent and the sight of cars rolling down the sidewalk is fairly common. It goes without saying, then, that cycling in the city is taking your life into your hands. But when gas is up, you gotta do what you gotta do.
In response to climbing oil prices, says the JoongAng Daily, South Koreans are taking a more active interest in greener options. CJ Mall, a Korean shopping site, reported selling over 1,000 bicycles just in the last month, the most popular of which was a $480 folding bike made by Strida.
Seoul and several other South Korean cities even hold their own "Critical Mass"--a loosely organized monthly parade of urban cyclists that takes place worldwide. (Though the "mass" looks to be pretty scant compared with rides in New York or Chicago.)
If you're feeling brave, fold out your ride and roll with the other Seoul cyclists this weekend; they meet every third Saturday of the month in front of the Kwanghwamun gate at 4 pm sharp.
Related Stories:
· High Oil Prices Push People to Buy Green [JoongAng]
· Critical Mass Korea [Official Site]
· South Korea Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Ki-young Choi]
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