Incheon Metropolitan City has made detailed spatial information on its bicycle paths publicly available through South Korea’s Public Data Portal, providing a comprehensive SHP file dataset captured as of February 2020. This resource supports the development of bicycle navigation apps, route planning services, and urban mapping tools, while aiding administrative efforts in path expansion, safety enhancements, and smart city traffic management. The free, unrestricted data marks a significant step toward promoting sustainable transportation in one of South Korea’s major urban centers.

Background

The dataset, titled “Incheon Metropolitan City Bicycle Paths Spatial Information_20200217,” originates from the city’s Land Information Division (토지정보과) and is categorized under transportation and logistics. It encompasses geospatial data on bicycle roads across Incheon, designed as a reference for building bicycle networks. Key applications include private sector innovations like accurate bike route guidance in apps and maps, as well as public sector uses such as planning path maintenance, installing amenities like rest areas and bike racks, and formulating traffic safety policies.

This release aligns with South Korea’s push for open data in sustainable mobility, enabling developers and planners to analyze Incheon’s cycling infrastructure status. The data requires tools like QGIS or ArcGIS for use, with UTF-8 encoding recommended to preserve Korean text. Registered on the portal in February 2021 and last updated in late 2025, it has been downloaded over 2,600 times, reflecting growing interest in cycling data for smart urban development.

Future Outlook

This open dataset positions Incheon as a leader in cycling-friendly urban planning, potentially inspiring similar initiatives worldwide. It could fuel the growth of citizen-focused bike services, integrate with national bike management systems, and support Korea’s green transport goals amid rising demand for low-carbon mobility. As cities globally prioritize bike infrastructure post-pandemic, expect expanded updates, API integrations, and cross-border collaborations to enhance real-time navigation and policy-making.

Sources

• Primary: Incheon Bicycle Paths Spatial Data on Public Data Portal
• Bicycle Path Management System Guidelines (CODIL)