Imagine touring around the beautiful coastline of Jeju Island… by bicycle. Well this is the idea behind the nearly-complete so-called Fantastic Bike Path that has been in the works since 2010 and has cost the province billions of won. But is the trail really “fantastic?” Mike Balfour reports.
There is a bicycle trail that is to follow the entire scenic coastline of the island.
Since 2010, Jeju City has been creating the trail, spending more than 35 billion won for the 234 km bicycle route.

So far, 215 kms have been completed and the rest is expected to be ready by early November. We took a closer look. Here, the width of the trail is narrower than the width of the handle bars of an average adult bicycle.

Because it’s so narrow, it’s hard to stay on track. And rocks lining one side force the cyclist to ride closer to the main road. Some portions of the bike trail get as narrow as 30 cm. Cyclists are not impressed.

SYNC
Cyclist
The bicycle trail is so narrow it’s hard for beginners to ride on. With cars driving past, it’s scary. It would be better for beginners like me if it were wider.
<싱크 : 자전거 이용 시민>
"자전거 길 폭이 너무 좁아서 초보자의 입장에서는 차도 오고 불안한 감이 있었어요. 조금만 더 넓었으면 저같은 초보자도 편하지 않았을까."

It’s worse in other areas. The indicative blue line for cyclists seems to have been painted just for the sake of it.

Even in areas where the path is wider, a cyclist has to dodge lampposts and other obstacles.

Jeju City officials say the blue line is only there to indicate which way to go and that it is not a dividing line between the bike path and other roads. That would mean in some areas, cyclists will have to drive right alongside cars on the road.

[INTERVIEW]
Ko Min-bong / Jeju City administration
The blue line you see on the Fantastic Bicycle Path is simply a sign telling the cyclist which way to go. It does not signify a division between bicycle road and sidewalk. You don’t have to ride inside it.
<인터뷰 : 고민봉 / 제주시 도시디자인과 자전거담당>
"제주 환상 자전거길 노면에 표시된 블루라인은 자전거 진행 유도표시로 보도와 자전거도로를 구분하는 선이 아닙니다. 따라서 블루라인 내에서
-----수퍼체인지-----
자전거를 타야 되는 것은 아닙니다."

[Reporter]
Mike Balfour

It took five years and tens of billions of won to create, but the so-called ‘fantastic’ bicycle route still leaves much to be desired.

Mike Balfour KCTV