[originaltext] Seoul Metropolitan City plans to set up more bicycle-only roa

Seoul Metropolitan City plans to set up more bicycle-only roads to encourage citizens and travelers to use eco-friendly forms of transport. The plan is part of the city’s free bicycle scheme, which is similar to Paris’ Velib. Earlier in August, the city government announced it will install bike stations in various places around the city in much the same way as Paris is doing now.
    The French city has bike stations every 300 meters with about 20,000 public bicycles in order to reduce traffic jams and lessen environmental pollution. Travelers and citizens alike can simply swipe their ordinary travel cards and borrow the bike for a short trip. They do not need to return the bike to the same pick-up point, but can leave it at the nearest Velib stand where their journey ends. [23]The first half hour is free but bike users have to pay for every additional 30 minutes. A subscription payment ranging from one day to a few months is also available.
    The 88-million-dollar plan is based on a "road diet" programme, under which the number of lanes for passenger vehicles in major roads will be cut to create new cycle paths. It calls for the construction of 17 main cycle paths totaling 200 kilometres that criss-cross the sprawling city and one downtown seven kilometre beltway. A problem confronting Seoul, however, is that the city lacks road infrastructure and related transportation law to guarantee the efficient operation of the free bicycle project.
    [24]In order to secure the safety of bike riders, the city will expand the current 55-kilometer bike-only road length to up to 360 kilometers by 2016. A total of $19.2 million will be allotted to enable bike riders to safely travel between southern and northern Seoul. In addition, the city government will introduce insurance products for bicycle riders under close cooperation with the domestic insurance industry as well as revise Transportation Law involving a bicycle. The city also will invite more ideas to better design Seoul’s version of Velib.
    "Although the infrastructure construction is expensive, it will bring more benefits to the metropolitan city and its citizens by promoting the eco-friendly transportation," a Seoul city spokesman said. "Bicycle-friendly communities will make people feel safer and more comfortable while riding their bikes for purposes of both fitness and transportation. [25]With more people bicycling, we can experience reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness," he said.
23. What should travelers and citizens do when they borrow the bikes in Paris?
24. What will the city Seoul do to secure the safety of bike riders?
25. What are the benefits of promoting eco-friendly transportation according to the speaker?