How to Get There
The Ara Bike Path lives in Incheon, Korea’s third largest city. It gives cyclists three terrific options to get on and off the cycling route.
Subway
Already in Seoul or Incheon? Take the subway. On weekends and holidays, it’s the fastest transportation.
Airport Express
The Airport Express (AREX) is a commuter train that travels from Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항) to Seoul Station (서울역) in the middle of the capital.
AREX tracks run parallel to two-thirds of the Ara Bike Path. Like most Korean subways, it allows passengers to board with full-size bikes on weekends and holidays.
These three AREX stations sit closest to the Ara Bike Path.
- Cheongna International City Station | 3.6 km from start | 3.6 km from path
- Geomam Station | 8.4 km from start | 750 m from path
- Gyeyang Station | 7.9 km from end | 750 m from path
Cheongna International City Station
As the crow flies, Cheongna International City Station (청라국제도시역) sits the closest to the Ara West Sea Lock, the Cross-Country Route’s start line.
However, it doesn’t lie near the bike path. You must navigate 3.6 kilometers of city streets to get to the start line (directions).
Geomam Station
Want to get to the start line? Geomam Station (검암역) might be the simplest access point.
The station perches 750 meters from the bike path, but one third of the way down the route. You’ll need to pedal 8.4 kilometers backwards to reach the Ara West Sea Lock (directions).
Want to complete the Ara Bicycle Path in one go? Start from this station and you’ll double the first third of the path. Up and back again. (The ride’s pleasant both ways.)
Geomam Station is also the terminus for Incheon Subway Line 2, which doesn’t accept full-size bikes any day of the week.
Gyeyang Station
Like Geomam, Gyeyang Station (계양역) offers excellent access to the Ara Bike Path, lying only 750 meters off-path.
However, it rests 7.9 kilometers from Ara Hangang Lock (directions), the bike path’s end in Seoul, and 13.3 kilometers from the start.
Gyeyang Station is the end of the line for Incheon Subway Line 1, which allows full-size bikes on weekends and holidays.
Other Lines
Seoul’s mega subway system reaches into every satellite city. Subway Line 1 and the Suin–Bundang Line, a commuter train, extend westward into Incheon’s borders.
However, Incheon maintains two subway lines of its own. Both end on the Ara Waterway.
- Incheon Subway Line 1 flows north/south through Incheon. It allows full-size bikes aboard on weekends and holidays. Line 1 connects with Incheon Bus Terminal.
- Incheon Subway Line 2 also takes a north/south route through Incheon. However, it does not accept full-size bikes any day of the week.
Intercity Bus
Not in Incheon or Seoul? Take a bus. They’re the best tool to hop between Korean cities with a bike.
Incheon Bus Terminal (인천종합버스터미널) sits square in downtown Incheon.
Both intercity and express buses flow in and out of the terminal.
- Intercity buses drive to every major metropolitan city, including nearby Seoul. Buses also visit every province other than Jeju. Gyeonggi and North and South Chungcheong boast the most busing routes (timetable)
- Express buses also connect with almost every metro city and province, but run fewer and quicker buses (timetable).
Terminal To Bike Path
Though Incheon’s intercity bus terminal is centrally located, the Ara Bike Path and Waterway live in the city’s northern regions.
Want to ride a bike there? You’re looking at a 19-kilometer slog through city streets (directions).
Don’t worry. The bus terminal pairs up with a subway station on Incheon Subway Line 1. On the weekends or holidays, this is the quickest path to the Ara Bike Path.
- From the bus terminal, descend into Incheon Terminal Station (인천터미널역).
- Take Incheon Subway Line 1 and get off at Gyeyang Station.
- From here, you have two options:
- Hop on the Ara Bike Path. You’re 8 km from the end. 16 km from the start.
- Or get closer to the start line by transferring to the Airport Express (AREX) subway.
- Take a train towards Incheon International Airport.
- Get off at either Geomam or Cheongna International City Stations.
Ara Bus Terminals
Airplanes
Coming from overseas? You’re in luck. Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항) lives on Yeongjong Island, visible from the Ara West Sea Lock, the Ara Bike Path’s start line.
So, can I cycle there? No. The bridges connecting the island to the mainland only allow vehicles. No bikes allowed.
Subways and buses are your only ways off the airport island.
Subway
Landing in Korea with your bike on a weekend? Head to the airport’s basement. Buy a transportation card and jump on the Airport Express (AREX). Get off ten-ish minutes and four or five stops later at Cheongna International City or Geomam Stations. Voilà! The Ara Bike Path.
Not the weekend? Leave your bike in its travel case. Can you carry it and your luggage without knocking over frail folk? They may let you bring it on the train.
Bus
Every major airport in Korea masses armies of buses that filter people to Korea’s major cities. Incheon International Airport, the nation’s largest, musters three types:
Airport City Buses
Incheon Metropolitan City runs the airport’s local city buses. None accommodate bumbling passengers and their wardrobe sized luggage.
Airport Limousines
Airport limousines and late night buses carry passengers from Terminal 1 and 2 into Seoul. Their undercarriages allow for larger luggage, including bikes.
Two limousine buses operate from around 9 AM until 6 PM. Bus 6009 drops people through Seoul’s north side. 6100 sprinkles them throughout the south side (timetable).
From midnight to 5 AM, late night buses make four to five stops on their way to either Seoul Station (서울역) in the north or Gangnam Bus Terminal (강남터미널) in the south (timetable).
Airport Intercity Buses
Incheon International Airport’s intercity and express buses reach almost every corner of Korea. They start at numbered stops outside Terminal 2, pick up more passengers at Terminal 1, then shoot off to their destination (timetable).
Like regular intercity city buses, they allow large luggage and bikes stowed in their underbellies.
Bus to Ara Bike Path
Because Incheon International Airport lives in Incheon, only city buses bring passengers to the city’s mainland.
However, an intercity bus runs from the airport to Bucheon Bus Terminal (부천종합터미널), just east of Incheon (Terminal 2 timetable; Terminal 1 timetable).
After arriving at Bucheon Bus Terminal, hop on your bike, navigate 10.1 kilometers down nearby Gulpo Stream Bike Road (굴포천자전거길), and flow directly onto the Ara Bike Path (directions).
