Seocho-gu, Nationwide First Pilot Installation of Electric Scooter Parking Zones

Increase in Various Safety Issues Such as Parking and Safety Accidents Due to the Activation of Shared Electric Kickboard Use...Nationwide First Pilot Installation of Electric Kickboard Parking Zones to Create a Safe Walking Environment

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Recently, as the sharing economy expands, the use of shared electric kickboards has become more active, leading to continuous complaints about collision risks due to disorderly sidewalk parking and pedestrian inconvenience.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) will pilot the installation of electric kickboard parking zones nationwide for the first time to prevent disorderly parking of electric kickboards and create a safe walking environment.

Considering locations around subway stations where electric kickboard usage is high and pedestrian obstruction is minimal, 50 parking zones will be piloted and operated.

Although disorderly parking of electric kickboards poses a threat to residents' safety, shared electric kickboard usage is already active and is a global trend. Therefore, in the absence of sufficient related laws, unconditional crackdowns are not considered the best solution.

Additionally, Seocho-gu is jointly applying for a regulatory sandbox with private operators to seek solutions to various problems arising from the increased use of electric kickboards. In cooperation with the private companies involved, the district plans to propose institutional improvements by presenting a model for establishing safe traffic order for new transportation means and analyzing the effectiveness of the pilot electric kickboard parking zones.

Prior to this, last year Seocho-gu held a meeting with representatives of shared electric kickboard operators and the local police station, and established a civil-government cooperative traffic inconvenience reporting hotline, which is currently in operation. Complaints related to electric kickboards are promptly addressed through this hotline.

Also, earlier this year, Seocho-gu, Seocho Police Station, Bangbae Police Station, and six electric kickboard operators signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish traffic order for shared electric kickboards.

Before installing the physical parking zones, a cooperative system among institutions that will play a leading role in maintaining order has been secured, and they will work together to solve various issues such as parking order and safety accidents.

Seocho-gu Mayor Cho Eun-hee stated, “By installing parking zones, we will correct disorderly parking and proactively respond to ensure the safety of pedestrians and users until clear regulations related to electric kickboards are established.”