14th Seoul Bike Festival to be held Sunday over 16.5-kilometer course

2022 Seoul Bike Fest course map [JOONGANG PHOTO]

The Seoul Bike Festival, jointly hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the JoongAng Ilbo-JTBC, will be held across the capital on Sunday.

Some 5,000 participants will bike through the 16.5-kilometer (10.2 mile) course connecting Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul and World Cup Park in Sangam-dong, western Seoul.

The cycling event, which marks its 14th anniversary this year, is fully returning for the first time since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The slogan is “Healthy bike-friendly city, global biking city Seoul.”

The 5,000 participants, who all pre-registered online, will gather in Gwanghwamun Square by 7 a.m. on Sunday.

For the first hour, they will stretch and listen to safety rules. Riders will be divided into three groups based on their desired speed: beginner (biking at 15 kilometers per hour), intermediate (20 kilometers per hour) and advanced (25 kilometers per hour), and wheel off sequentially.

Departing from Gwanghwamun Square at 8 a.m., the parade will pass through Taepyeong-ro and whiz past Sungnyemun Gate and City Hall. After passing Sookmyung Women’s University and Namyeong Station, the parade will enter the Gangbyeon Expressway via the north side of the Hangang Bridge. Cyclists can ride in any lane except for the bus-only lane up until the Gangbyeon Expressway, where they will be limited to the right lane.

The highlight of the ride is the 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) section on the Gangbyeon Expressway. With police cooperation, an entire section from the Expressway bound to Ilsan will be car-free.

From the northern part of Gayang Bridge to Sangam-dong, cyclists have to use the right lane. This 400-meter (0.25-mile) segment is the most challenging, as cyclists have to ride uphill as the road gets narrower. After this challenge, participants can enjoy a relaxing ride through the tree-lined World Cup Boulevard. Riders will then reach Peace Plaza, where they will be given snacks.

Starting at 9:30 a.m., Peace Plaza will host performances from artists. A raffle will also offer an indoor bike and sports equipment.

To return home using public transportation, participants can board Seoul Metro Line 6 with their bikes at either World Cup Stadium Station or Mapo-gu Office Station. To bike back home, they can use the bike lane along Bulgwangcheon and Hongjecheon streams leading into Hangang Park.

For more information, call their office (02-2031-1913) or visit their website at (www.seoulbikefest.com).

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]