40 Bicycle Enthusiasts Join 'Hangang Bicycle Patrol' to Promote Safety Culture

Weekly Promotion of Bicycle Path Usage Rules Including Compliance with Safe Speed and Helmet Wearing

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Bicycle enthusiasts are joining efforts to create a safety culture on the Han River Park bicycle paths.

On the 4th, the Han River Project Headquarters of Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has completed the recruitment of the ‘Han River Bicycle Patrol’ volunteer team and will conduct a safety culture promotion campaign on the bicycle paths for four months from August to November.

Recently, as the number of citizens using bicycles has increased and personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric kickboards have been allowed to use the bicycle paths, the need to spread a proper bicycle path usage culture has grown. Over the past five years, the average annual number of bicycle accidents in Han River Park was 105 cases, with speeding identified as the main cause in most cases, and other causes including crossing the center line, collisions, overtaking, and sudden direction changes.

The ‘Han River Bicycle Patrol’ rides throughout Han River Park to directly promote bicycle path safety culture. The 40 members selected through last month’s recruitment will work in teams of four, mainly on weekends and holidays when bicycle path users are numerous, to promote safety rules such as ‘observing the safe speed limit (20 km/h)’ and ‘wearing helmets.’ The entire 78 km of bicycle paths across 11 Han River parks will be divided into four zones: Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest, with each team riding back and forth along a 20 km section.

Additionally, the Han River Project Headquarters plans to continuously improve facilities by installing visual guide posts and LED markers in accident-prone areas and improving the structure of the bicycle paths to prevent bicycle accidents.

Hwang In-sik, head of the Han River Project Headquarters of Seoul City, said, “Protecting safety on the bicycle paths is directly connected not only to the safety of bicycle users but also to that of pedestrians,” and added, “We hope citizens actively participate in the ‘Han River Bicycle Patrol’ volunteer team’s efforts to spread a safety culture.”