Exclusive Median Bus Lane Network

Buses have been serving citizens for decades as one of the most typical public transport modes along with subways; however, irregular service intervals due to traffic congestion have caused inconveniences and led to citizens gradually avoiding bus use. As a consequence, the exclusive median bus lane system was first introduced in the second half of 1986 as part of the bus priority policy, one of the ways to induce the transition from private cars to public transport modes in the wake of a vicious cycle of increasing the use of private cars and increasing traffic congestion.

Since the first exclusive median bus lane system was implemented by installing roadside exclusive bus lanes on Wangsan Road in 1986, the total length of exclusive bus lanes reached 224.5km in 1999. The exclusive median bus lane system designating the median lanes of road as the exclusive median bus lanes was first introduced to Cheonho-daero in 1996, and it has been regularized since the time of reorganizing the popular transportation system by Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2004.

Since its introduction in July 2004 to Dobong-Mia-ro, Susaek- Seongsan-ro and Gangnam-daero, it has been expanded on average by 15km per year mainly on roads with heavy traffic congestion.By the end of 2014, 117.5km of exclusive median bus lanes have been built and operated thus providing fast and safe bus services by connecting major arterial roads without clogging.

As of 2016, 119.3 km of lanes designed for the exclusive use of buses, in an effort to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction, are operated throughout the city of Seoul.