Seoul’s affordable, efficient, and timely public transit system sustains one of the highest ridership levels in the world. An unlimited mass transit pass that would allow riders to use all subway and bus lines and the city’s bike-sharing service is planned for release in 2024 and may help boost ridership further. The city’s 2030 plan envisions an expanded and speedier rail network with more frequent bus service. In 2022, Seoul expanded nightly bus service.
The combination of the presence of top university talent and government investment in mobility technology and infrastructure has made Seoul a leader in mobility innovation and utilization. In July 2023, Seoul National University and a large automaker co-created a new research institute to study electric vehicle battery technology.
[This article is featured, not for its ranking of cities on their Urban Mobility Readiness Index, but for the analysis of Seoul’s mobility networks, the trends, and the gaps. – LBM]