"Honestly, It's a Matter of Conscience" Are You Parking Your Electric Kickboard Properly? [Han Reporter Goes]

Electric Kickboards Scattered Across Various Urban Areas
Government Presents Parking Guidelines, but Criticism Arises Over 'Conscience Issue'

Electric scooters parked on the sidewalk in the Euljiro area of Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th. They are carelessly left on the sidewalk, obstructing pedestrian traffic. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Isn't it ultimately a matter of conscience?" "Guidelines have been issued, so we have to wait and see."

On the afternoon of the 10th, entering a bustling alley in the Euljiro area of Jung-gu, Seoul, scattered electric kickboards were visible everywhere. People passing through here could not walk properly due to the kickboards lying haphazardly. Some even temporarily stepped down onto the road to avoid the kickboards fallen on the sidewalk.

Electric kickboard sharing services were first introduced in Korea in September 2018. Since then, as of May this year in Seoul, 15 companies have been operating a total of about 16,580 units. However, the parking problem has not been resolved despite the increase in kickboards. Some users leave the kickboards as if abandoning them right where they finished using them, and some even leave them on the road, causing headaches.

Citizens unanimously raised their voices about the still unresolved problem of 'street kickboard abandonment.' A man in his 40s who works said, "The problem of kickboards hitting people's feet has been going on for a long time, but I don't understand why it hasn't been improved yet," expressing dissatisfaction.

Another office worker, Mr. Lee (37), said, "Isn't this problem already well known?" and added, "I think the problem won't disappear unless someone trips over a kickboard and has a serious accident."

As citizens pointed out, the issue of abandoned kickboards in urban areas is not new. Accordingly, in September, the Seoul city government issued guidelines to establish kickboard parking order. The city designated 12 types of recommended parking areas for kickboards, including ▲ next to major structures installed on sidewalks such as street trees, benches, and street lamps ▲ around bicycle racks ▲ two-wheeler parking lots ▲ next to sidewalk flower beds and sculptures.

For no-parking zones, 14 types were listed, including ▲ roadways and bicycle lanes ▲ lowered curb entrances between roads and sidewalks ▲ areas that may obstruct crosswalks, sidewalks, and walking paths ▲ the center of sidewalks ▲ within 10 meters of bus stops and taxi stands.

Electric scooters parked between the sidewalk and the road. If a scooter falls toward the road, it can pose safety risks such as traffic accidents. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Last month, the Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution announced the results of the 8th Regulatory and Institutional Innovation Hackathon and released guidelines related to electric kickboards.

According to the committee, a total of 13 no-parking zones were disclosed that day. These include ▲ the center of sidewalks ▲ crosswalks and walking paths ▲ tactile paving blocks and elevator entrances ▲ bus stops and taxi stands ▲ pedestrian entrances and exits of buildings and shopping areas ▲ roadways ▲ lowered entrance and exit curbs ▲ bicycle lanes ▲ areas within 5 meters of fire facilities ▲ overpasses and underground pedestrian roads ▲ stairs and railings ▲ tunnels and bridges ▲ restricted traffic zones.

However, citizens still complain about inconvenience caused by abandoned kickboards. Some users continue to return kickboards by throwing them around the streets. Although the city has presented kickboard parking guidelines such as no-parking zones, these are only recommendations, so if not followed, there are no penalties.

As a result, kickboard operators run specialized collection vehicles to organize street kickboards, but citizens commonly agree that this is insufficient.

Kim, a university student in his 20s who said he frequently uses kickboards, pointed out, "The kickboard companies organize them, but the problem is the moment the kickboard falls on the street. Even if they clean up an hour later, what good does it do?" indicating it is not very helpful.

Electric scooters parked openly on the city sidewalk. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Park, a man in his 30s who works, criticized, "People seem to think that since they only use a kickboard once and then stop or use another one, they don't really care about management." He added, "If people thought others would use the kickboard they used, they wouldn't park it carelessly."

Meanwhile, the government intends to reduce street kickboard parking problems through continuous management and operation. The 4th Industrial Revolution Committee sent the guidelines to related ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and requested monitoring of policy implementation and disclosure of results to stakeholders. Furthermore, the guidelines are expected to be shared by local governments and used as a foundation for personal mobility-related policies including electric kickboards.

Yoon Sung-ro, chairman of the 4th Industrial Revolution Committee, said, "We will conduct follow-up management to ensure that the agreed matters bear practical fruit," adding, "Related agencies will establish implementation plans for the agreements and continuously check whether each agenda item is carried out. For matters requiring legal amendments, we will closely cooperate with the government and the National Assembly."