Gangdong-gu Riverside Along the Han River to Become a 'Bicycle Riding Hub'

Cheonho Bicycle Street to Host Riding Challenge in April and October This Year
Rest and Maintenance Spaces to Be Developed at Godeokcheon Stream and Garaeyeoul

Last fall, the first-ever ‘Cheonho Bicycle Street Riding Challenge’ held in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, attracted over 3,700 cycling enthusiasts and residents over 16 days. The riding course, which starts from Cheonho Bicycle Street and covers a 30 km section along the Han River, including Banpo Bridge’s Moonlight Rainbow Fountain and Ttukseom Hangang Riverside Stage, saw 2,500 participants register within two days, leading to an early closure. About 1,200 nearby residents and visitors enjoyed the festival by riding a 1.5 km leisure course.

Jung Hwa-jin, head of the Urban Landscape Project Team at Gangdong-gu Office, said, "If we develop and specialize the Han River riverside in Gangdong-gu in an eco-friendly way, this place will become a sacred site for riders nationwide."

Last year, participants of the riding challenge and Lee Soo-hee, the mayor of Gangdong-gu, are cheering together. Provided by Gangdong-gu.

Gangdong-gu plans to expand the Cheonho Bicycle Street Riding Challenge, first held in October last year, to twice a year in spring (April-May) and fall (October-November). Additionally, by the end of this year, they plan to create a specialized network hub where bicycle enthusiasts can rest or enjoy themselves at the intersection of the Han River bike paths including Cheonho Bicycle Street, Godeokcheon Stream, and Garaeyeoul.

This plan began the year before last. Cheonho Bicycle Street was selected for Seoul’s ‘Local Brand Enhancement Project’ in 2023, and the commercial district enhancement project is being implemented through this year. A total of 900 million KRW from Seoul city and district funds has already been invested, with an additional 600 million KRW planned for this year. Cheonho Bicycle Street is a 430-meter section from Cheonho Park to the Han River Park’s Jumeunnadeulmok, where 35 bicycle-related stores that have organically emerged, along with 57 other businesses including restaurants, cafes, and accommodations, are thriving.

Combining the hardware of the Han River riverside with the content of the riding challenge has enabled positive effects such as revitalizing the local commercial district and eco-friendly development. Gangdong-gu has decided to create rest and maintenance spaces where riders can relax and enjoy views of the Han River at the lower part of Godeokcheon Stream and the Garaeyeoul area along the Han River in the Godeok-Gangil district by the end of this year.

The bicycle riding hub project is one of the eco-friendly development projects along the Han River that Lee Soo-hee, the mayor of Gangdong-gu, is focusing on as a future project for the district. Although Gangdong-gu’s Han River riverside has high historical, cultural, and natural appeal, unlike the Han River basins in Guri City or Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province, it is designated as a water source protection area, which imposes excessive restrictions on development.

With the move-in of reconstructed apartment complexes in Godeok and Sangil-dong, the development of Godeok Biz Valley, and large-scale housing developments in the Gangil district, demand for utilization of Gangdong-gu’s Han River riverside is high, but accessibility and utilization of the eastern Han River riverside section near Jamsil lag significantly behind.

The mayor said, "The Amsa Green Road, connecting the Amsa-dong archaeological site to the Han River, will open next month, Godeokcheon Stream maintenance will be completed by October this year, and Mangwolcheon Stream’s riverside walking path and rest areas will be finished by February next year. We will develop Gangdong-gu’s Han River riverside into an accessible rest and cultural space that will attract nationwide attention."

Symbol of Cheonho Bicycle Street at the entrance of Gwangnaru Hangang Park. Provided by Gangdong-gu.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.