8th Hi Seoul Bike Parade scheduled for Sunday

The 2015 Hi Seoul Bike Parade will start rolling Sunday morning at Gwanghwamun Square.

The event, co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the JoongAng Ilbo and JTBC, will see approximately 5,000 participants cycle 21 kilometers (13 miles) from central Seoul to World Cup Park in Mapo District, western Seoul.

Noh Hyeong-pyo, 79, from Goyang, Gyeonggi, is the oldest participant in this year’s parade. Cycling has been a part of Noh’s life for decades.

He learned how to ride a bicycle right after Korea was liberated in 1945. Working at a stationery store, he delivered supplies to government offices. And when the two Koreas reached an armistice agreement after the Korean War (1950-1953), he used a bicycle to go out farming. In 2002, after he underwent surgery for stomach cancer, riding helped him recover his health.

As an advisor to a local bicycle club, Noh is participating in the 2015 Hi Seoul Bicycle Parade with 15 fellow members.

“Bicycling is like a friend of mine for life,” Noh said. “I’ll keep riding as long as my health allows.”

This will be the eighth bike parade since it was first established in 2009. The slogan this year is “Happy biking leads to greenhouse gas reductions.” As in the past, participants are divided into three groups by speed. They will ride through Seoul Station, Gangbyeon Expressway and Gayang Bridge to get to the World Cup Park.

Once arriving at the finish line, participants may enjoy giveaways from promotional booths at the park as well as celebratory performances.

Traffic is restricted along the course between 7:55 a.m. and 10 a.m. Police called on drivers to avoid driving along the course to prevent congestion during the race. Further information is provided on the website http://www.hiseoulbike.com/.

BY KIM BONG-MOON [kim.bongmoon@joongang.co.kr]