Songpa-gu and 5 Electric Scooter Companies Collaborate to Ensure User Safety

Songpa-gu Proposes Educational Program to Teach Proper Usage... Requests Deployment of Specialists to Solve Parking Disorder

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) gathered representatives from five electric scooter companies operating in the area to discuss safety measures. This meeting was organized by the district to ensure the safety of residents in anticipation of the amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which will allow electric scooters to use bicycle lanes starting at the end of this year.

Until now, electric scooters were classified as "motorized bicycles," which include small motorcycles, requiring a license to operate and restricting them to roadways. However, following the approval of amendments to the Road Traffic Act and the Act on Promotion of Bicycle Use on May 20, electric scooters will be newly classified as "personal mobility devices" six months later. Accordingly, they will be permitted to travel on bicycle lanes, and anyone aged 13 or older can use them without a driver's license.

However, concerns about pedestrian safety have been raised alongside the legal changes, emphasizing the importance of safety measures such as proper riding education for users. Considering the high number of electric scooter users in the district, the district office convened a meeting at 2:30 p.m. on the 2nd with five shared electric scooter companies.

The representatives of ▲Lime Korea Ltd. ▲Beam Mobility Korea ▲Ollulo ▲PUMP ▲Plaring attended and engaged in in-depth discussions on solutions to parking disorder issues and protective gear usage, which have been frequently raised concerns. Currently, about 1,700 electric scooters are operated by these five companies in the district.

At the meeting, participants emphasized the high incidence of safety accidents caused by inexperienced use. In response, the district announced plans to consider operating educational programs to promote proper usage. Furthermore, the district requested the electric scooter operators to contribute to ensuring residents' safety and creating local jobs by deploying specialized personnel to address parking problems.

Alongside the meeting, a "Safety Resolution Rally" was held to pledge mutual cooperation in creating a safe usage environment. Through a resolution, the district and shared electric scooter companies committed to establishing a cooperative system and promoting campaigns to prevent drunk driving and encourage the habitual use of safety protective gear.

Mayor Park Seong-su stated, "It is meaningful that the five shared electric scooter companies operating services in the Songpa area gathered ahead of the law's enforcement." He added, "There have been limitations in establishing safety measures, but starting with this meeting, we will cooperate with shared electric scooter companies to resolve residents' inconveniences and take the lead in fostering a safer usage culture."