Abstract
Cycling is a promising zero-emission mode in the mobility domain globally. In Seoul however, only 2.58% of trips are by cycle in 2012 despite krw 74.6 billion investment from 2008 to 2012 by Seoul Metropolitan Government. The number of bicycle users increased rapidly over a decade but this has mainly been for leisure activities. This obviously reflects the limitations of the existing cycling system regarding travel times, distances and safety, as well as the dominant mobility culture. Considering that most travel in Seoul is for the purpose of commuting, it is highly desirable for a sustainable city to make cycling a key mode for commuting. This paper contributes to explore urban mobility transitions in an Asian megacity context. It analyzes the transition dynamics of the cycling system in Seoul from a socio-technical system viewpoint, drawing on the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and its phase model to capture the current limits and potentials of cycling as an important future commuting mode. The main drivers and barriers of a system transition are identified, considering niche, regime and landscape interactions. Based on the findings, the paper then suggests alternative approaches in policy and planning to foster the use of cycling as a commuting mode. In conclusion, electric bicycles and mobile phone applications are highlighted as important technology niches to overcome certain barriers. But also infrastructure improvements like the public transport transfer system and/or bicycle parking lots need to contribute to boost the modal share of cycling. Most importantly, however, various social and institutional aspects including user preferences, market mechanisms, policies, practices and cultures play a crucial role to promote and accelerate a transition in the cycling system.
Highlights
The urban population has shown rapid growth over decades
Research question has been raised from here: How can Seoul make a breakthrough of cycling as a key commuting mode through effective policy approaches? And what makes it difficult for Seoul citizens to change their travel behavior?
Socio-technical system analysis and the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) provide very useful tools as they enable a comprehensive consideration of individual, social, physical environment and technology factors in order to identify pathways for radical system transitions through interactions among landscape, regime and niches
Summary
The urban population has shown rapid growth over decades. While only 30% of the world population resided in urban area in 1950, it has risen to 54% in 2014 and will further rise to 66% by 2050. Many cities address sustainable transportation policies in response to aforementioned challenges in mobility domain. The number of bicycle users in Seoul increased rapidly over a decade but this has mainly been for leisure activities. A survey in 2009 found that 87.8% of Seoul citizens would use a bicycle as a transportation mode if the cycling infrastructure in Seoul were improved. In response to climate change and demand for sustainable transportation, Seoul made an ambitious goal in 2008 to raise the modal share of cycling from 1.6% to 10% by 2020 [5]. More than 600,000 people are members of an online community named “Commuting by bicycle” in South Korea It is a considerable number, this figure would include people who commute by bicycle, and people who are just interested in riding a bike. A research question has been raised from here: How can Seoul make a breakthrough of cycling as a key commuting mode through effective policy approaches? And what makes it difficult for Seoul citizens to change their travel behavior?
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