Yeosu City Takes Measures to Ensure Safe Operation of Electric Kickboards

City, Yeosu Police Station, and Electric Kickboard Company CEO Meeting

Citizen Safety and Pedestrian Environment Improvement... Public-Private 'Cooperation Requested'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kwon Oh-bong) has recently taken measures to ensure the safe operation of electric kickboards, which have become a problem as demand has increased among teenagers and young people in their 20s and 30s as a convenient means of transportation.

On the 16th, Yeosu City announced that it held a meeting with the Yeosu Police Station and representatives of electric kickboard companies to prepare “Personal Mobility (PM) Safety Measures.”

“Personal Mobility (PM)” refers to single-person transportation devices powered by electricity, such as electric kickboards, electric two-wheeled balance vehicles, and bicycles that can move solely by electric motor power.

As demand has exploded recently, there is growing concern among citizens demanding countermeasures due to threats to pedestrians and vehicle traffic and indiscriminate illegal parking.

At the meeting, the city requested active cooperation from related companies and the Yeosu Police Station to resolve citizen inconveniences such as violations of safe driving including speeding and disorderly illegal parking.

In particular, if the “Personal Mobility Related Act” passes the National Assembly, the city is considering enacting ordinances for citizen safety along with strong regulations such as fines and forced towing based on higher laws.

A city official said, “Convenience is important, but citizen safety comes first,” and added, “We hope that the public and private sectors will actively cooperate to protect the safety of both electric kickboard users and pedestrians.”

Meanwhile, starting from the 13th of next month, with the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act, strong police crackdowns will be conducted on violations subject to fines and penalties, such as failure to comply with duties of care including riding without a motor license for those aged 16 or older, carrying passengers, not wearing helmets, riding on sidewalks, and violating designated lanes.