Lee Min-keun, the mayor of Ansan, stated on October 7 that "recklessly abandoned personal mobility devices and shared e-bikes pose a threat to public safety," emphasizing that "the safety of pedestrians is the top priority."
On this day, Mayor Lee announced plans to expand immediate towing of personal mobility devices (PMs) that are illegally parked on sidewalks and bike lanes.
This initiative aims to ensure the convenience of citizens' mobility while actively addressing the issue of abandoned devices that infringe on pedestrian rights and safety.
Recently, the mayor designated the area around Ansan Cultural Plaza as a towing zone, implementing a pilot program to monitor and tow PMs parked outside designated areas. In July, the towing zone was expanded to cover the entire commercial area of Gojan New Town.
Starting in October, additional safety officers will be deployed to conduct day and night enforcement in pairs, directly towing abandoned devices on-site.
The areas targeted for immediate towing will also expand from the existing Gojan New Town to include Seonbu Plaza, Handeaep Station commercial area, and Saemgol-ro, where PM usage is high and related complaints are concentrated.
Key enforcement targets include the center of sidewalks and bike lanes, areas around crosswalks, tactile paving, and elevator entrances.
Particularly, PMs abandoned in locations that obstruct pedestrian and vulnerable traffic movements will be prioritized for towing, with a towing fee of 30,000 won imposed on each device.
Mayor Lee has been holding regular meetings with local PM operators to promote the preemptive relocation and organization of abandoned devices and the establishment of designated parking areas.
However, complaints related to abandoned devices have more than doubled in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, prompting the decision to expand immediate towing to ensure pedestrian safety and access.
The mayor is also working to extend the management system for personal mobility devices from electric scooters to include shared e-bikes.
To this end, the city plans to collaborate with the city council to amend relevant ordinances and establish a legal framework for managing and monitoring shared e-bikes.
Currently, approximately 4,000 electric scooters and 6,000 shared e-bikes are in operation in the Ansan area, with a recent increase in complaints regarding the illegal abandonment of shared e-bikes.
Citizens have expressed the need for a practical management system that secures pedestrian spaces while considering the convenience and safety of users.
Above all, when devices are abandoned in the middle of sidewalks or near crosswalks, tactile paving, and entrances, it can directly inconvenience pedestrians, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, highlighting the need for a more systematic management approach.
Mayor Lee added, "While ensuring the convenience of citizens' mobility, we will strengthen enforcement to prevent infringement on pedestrian safety and continue to collaborate with operating companies to create a proper usage environment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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