Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon jetted off to Australia hunting for ferry secrets ahead of his city's big boat launch. The mayor spent days in Brisbane checking out their CityCat water buses that cruise along the river. He wanted to steal their best tricks for keeping boats running on time and getting people excited about river travel. Brisbane officials showed Oh exactly how they run their floating bus network that started back in 1996. The mayor even hopped aboard one of their 27 ferries to see what passengers experience during their river rides.
Brisbane runs boats along 20 kilometers of river with 19 different stops for people to jump on and off. Oh studied their safety rules and figured out which ideas could work back home on the Han River. City Hall meetings on Tuesday gave him the inside scoop from transport bosses about making water travel popular with locals. Wednesday brought the real test when Oh rode the actual ferry to feel what commuters go through every day.
Seoul plans to launch 12 shiny new Hangang Bus ferries in September along a massive 31.5 kilometer route. The boats will hit seven major stops including Yeouido and Jamsil with rides every 15 minutes during busy weekdays. Weekend warriors will wait 30 minutes between boats while adults pay 3,000 won for tickets. Kids get cheap 1,100 won rides while teenagers fork over 1,800 won for their river adventures.
Brisbane runs boats along 20 kilometers of river with 19 different stops for people to jump on and off. Oh studied their safety rules and figured out which ideas could work back home on the Han River. City Hall meetings on Tuesday gave him the inside scoop from transport bosses about making water travel popular with locals. Wednesday brought the real test when Oh rode the actual ferry to feel what commuters go through every day.
Seoul plans to launch 12 shiny new Hangang Bus ferries in September along a massive 31.5 kilometer route. The boats will hit seven major stops including Yeouido and Jamsil with rides every 15 minutes during busy weekdays. Weekend warriors will wait 30 minutes between boats while adults pay 3,000 won for tickets. Kids get cheap 1,100 won rides while teenagers fork over 1,800 won for their river adventures.
