Lee bikes to work on World Car Free Day

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak rode his bicycle to work and citizens took mass transit for free Monday morning as South Korea participated in World Car Free Day to help the environment.

"President Lee and all his secretaries will use their cars sparingly throughout
the day," said an official at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. "The event
also goes along with Cheong Wa Dae's campaign to save energy."
Lee used a mini-van to get to Seoul Station, and took a train to attend a
provincial event. His secretaries took buses or subway trains for their morning
commute, the official said.
World Car Free Day is simultaneously observed in 2,000 cities across 40 countries
as part of an international initiative to have people experience a car-free
lifestyle and help the environment.
On the street, the annual event drew mixed responses. Police blocked off
stretches along major streets in Seoul and other cities around the nation,
allowing only buses to pass through.
"The roads are usually jammed with cars but there were few of them today. It was
a pleasant ride to work," said a woman who came to work by bus, giving only her
family name Lee.
Others were less than pleased, as police sealed off major roads in Seoul's
Jonggno and Dongdaemun wards, causing backups. A man who asked to be identified
only as Jang said he spent twice as much time on the road than usual.
"I can't understand why they're doing this in Jongno, which is usually congested.
It took 30 minutes to get to work. It would take 15 minutes usually."
hkim@yna.co.kr
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