"Please Do Not Ride on the Sidewalk" Delivery Motorcycles' 'Lawless Racing' [Reporter Han Goes]

Motorcyclists Weaving Dangerously Above India
Civilians Complain "Dangerous and Reckless Driving... Also Causes Traffic Inconvenience"

A delivery motorcycle is carrying cargo and riding on the sidewalk in a busy area of Seoul. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "The motorcycle is just reckless driving, why on earth are they riding on the sidewalk!"

Recently, with the spread of the delivery culture, delivery motorcycles have been increasingly riding quickly on sidewalks where people walk. As a result, not only is there a risk of safety accidents, but also obstruction of passage, causing inconvenience to citizens.

On the afternoon of the 30th, a delivery motorcycle slid onto a crowded sidewalk in a busy area of Seoul. There was no honking or defensive driving for the safety of pedestrians passing by.

The driver then hurriedly took out the ordered food and disappeared into a building. After about 10 minutes, the driver reappeared, got on the motorcycle, revved the engine, and disappeared into the crowd.

Citizens watching this immediately expressed their dissatisfaction. Mr. A, a worker in his 50s, said, "I don't know why they are driving so fast," adding, "If they cause an accident, it will be hard for themselves and many others."

Another worker in his 30s, Mr. B, pointed out, "Motorcycles are not allowed on sidewalks," and added, "Since there are so many motorcycles, everyone just seems to overlook it." He continued, "Because I order delivery food a lot, I think this kind of thing happens," and expressed frustration, saying, "Still, I wish they would be more careful."

A delivery motorcycle parked next to the sidewalk tree for food delivery. The motorcycle quickly traveled through various parts of the sidewalk. Photo by Han Seunggon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Delivery motorcycles riding on sidewalks like roads are expected to increase further. According to the "Report on the Impact of Delivery App Expansion on Employment" published last year by the Korea Labor Institute, the total number of delivery workers in Korea is 130,000.

Among them, 36% are delivery workers directly employed by Chinese restaurants, chicken, and pizza shops. The remaining 64% work for delivery agencies. This means there are over 80,000 motorcycle drivers affiliated with delivery apps or delivery agencies.

As the delivery market grows, the number of motorcycles riding on sidewalks is inevitably expected to increase. However, all of this is illegal.

Under the Road Traffic Act, two-wheeled vehicles are classified as vehicles, so drivers must use the roadway where roads have separated lanes for vehicles and sidewalks.

If a two-wheeled vehicle rides on the sidewalk, a fine of 40,000 KRW and 10 penalty points are imposed according to Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act. Especially, if a two-wheeled vehicle causes injury to a person while riding on the sidewalk, it is considered one of the 12 major serious offenses involving sidewalk intrusion. Even if the driver settles with the victim or has comprehensive insurance, under the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents, they may face imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

A delivery motorcycle is on the sidewalk waiting for the pedestrian signal. Citizens are seen walking around the motorcycle. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Nevertheless, numerous motorcycles are dangerously riding back and forth between the roadway and sidewalks. This inevitably increases the risk of safety accidents.

Citizens complained about many dangerous situations caused by motorcycles racing on sidewalks. Mr. Kim, a worker in his 30s, said, "A motorcycle passed by my side at a very high speed head-on," adding, "I don't know if the motorcycle avoided me or if I instinctively dodged." He emphasized, "If motorcycles absolutely have to ride on sidewalks, I wish they would reduce their speed."

Another worker in his 30s, Mr. Park, shared a similar experience. He said, "I was crossing a crosswalk when suddenly a motorcycle came out at high speed from behind. It was really dangerous." He added, "The motorcycle disappeared into an apartment complex," expressing frustration, "I really wish they would go slowly."

In fact, the number of riders and victims involved in motorcycle accidents continues to rise. Over three years (2016?2018), an average of 31 pedestrians died and 3,630 were injured annually due to two-wheeled vehicle accidents. Additionally, an average of 812 two-wheeled vehicle riders lose their lives in traffic accidents each year.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board

Given this situation, a petition to the Blue House demanding strict punishment for illegal motorcycles riding on sidewalks has been submitted.

The petitioner urged stronger enforcement, stating, "Failing to crack down on motorcycles (both delivery and personal) illegally riding on sidewalks and leaving this unchecked without any alternatives or considerations is clearly repeating complacency even when a major accident is imminent."

Amid ongoing safety risks and passage obstructions caused by motorcycles riding on sidewalks, the responsible government department with enforcement authority stated that it will actively respond to complaints to prevent inconvenience to citizens.

A transportation official emphasized, "When complaints about motorcycles riding on sidewalks or illegal parking arise, we handle them by issuing guidance on-site," adding, "We will do our best to ensure citizens do not experience inconvenience."