Kim Gun, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, announced that he has proposed amendments to legislation aimed at enhancing the safety of public bicycles.
According to his office on the 13th, Kim introduced a bill titled 'Partial Amendment to the Act on Promotion of Bicycle Use.'
Known as the 'Ddarungi Safe Use Act,' the bill's key provisions allow the government to establish standards for necessary safety equipment, regular and ad-hoc safety inspections, retrieval and repair of malfunctioning bicycles, and safety management criteria that operators must follow.
Kim stated, "Public bicycles, including Ddarungi, have long been a popular mode of transportation for citizens. Instead of leaving inspections to varying local practices, the government should set basic safety management standards."
Currently, there are no unified standards for when and how public bicycles should be inspected. According to Kim's office, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has not provided standard guidelines for public bicycle safety inspections. Local governments are using different criteria and methods for inspections.
Due to the lack of standards, there are discrepancies in inspection frequencies even within the same metropolitan area. For instance, Yeonje District in Busan conducts inspections daily, while Gijang County in Busan inspects twice a month. Some local governments have not specified inspection frequencies, only stating 'ad-hoc' or 'ongoing,' according to Kim's office.
This regulatory gap has led to accidents involving public bicycles across the country. Data submitted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to Kim's office revealed that from January to June 2024, there were 237 accidents nationwide attributed to bicycle malfunctions or defects.
In Sejong City, incidents occurred where a bicycle seat suddenly dropped and where a brake cable snapped, rendering the bicycle unable to stop. Similar cases of simultaneous brake failures and chain detachments during operation were reported in Suncheon City, Jeonnam.
Kim emphasized, "A small defect can lead to significant accidents for users," and pledged to work diligently on legislation and policies to reduce risks in citizens' daily lives and create a safer environment for bicycle use.
According to his office on the 13th, Kim introduced a bill titled 'Partial Amendment to the Act on Promotion of Bicycle Use.'
Known as the 'Ddarungi Safe Use Act,' the bill's key provisions allow the government to establish standards for necessary safety equipment, regular and ad-hoc safety inspections, retrieval and repair of malfunctioning bicycles, and safety management criteria that operators must follow.
Kim stated, "Public bicycles, including Ddarungi, have long been a popular mode of transportation for citizens. Instead of leaving inspections to varying local practices, the government should set basic safety management standards."
Currently, there are no unified standards for when and how public bicycles should be inspected. According to Kim's office, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has not provided standard guidelines for public bicycle safety inspections. Local governments are using different criteria and methods for inspections.
Due to the lack of standards, there are discrepancies in inspection frequencies even within the same metropolitan area. For instance, Yeonje District in Busan conducts inspections daily, while Gijang County in Busan inspects twice a month. Some local governments have not specified inspection frequencies, only stating 'ad-hoc' or 'ongoing,' according to Kim's office.
This regulatory gap has led to accidents involving public bicycles across the country. Data submitted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to Kim's office revealed that from January to June 2024, there were 237 accidents nationwide attributed to bicycle malfunctions or defects.
In Sejong City, incidents occurred where a bicycle seat suddenly dropped and where a brake cable snapped, rendering the bicycle unable to stop. Similar cases of simultaneous brake failures and chain detachments during operation were reported in Suncheon City, Jeonnam.
Kim emphasized, "A small defect can lead to significant accidents for users," and pledged to work diligently on legislation and policies to reduce risks in citizens' daily lives and create a safer environment for bicycle use.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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