'Bicycle Club' Occupies First Lane on Commute
Cutting in Front of Cars and Running Red Lights
There is controversy over eyewitness reports that members of a bicycle club rode together in the first lane and even cut in front of cars waiting at a traffic signal.
On the 28th, a post titled "Is this the right way to ride a bicycle?" was uploaded to an online community. As of 9 a.m. on the 29th, the post had garnered over 11,110 views and 200 recommendations, becoming a hot topic. The author, Mr. A, began by saying, "Around 8:19 a.m. on the 28th, I encountered six members of a bicycle group who were diligently going for a ride."
Mr. A acknowledged, "I agree that it is good for people in their 30s to 50s to have exercise gatherings," but added, "However, riding in the first lane on a 3-4 lane two-way road is not appropriate. They should be riding in the far right lane, but at OO intersection, they rode in the first lane to make a left turn and then turned left from the left-turn lane." The photos Mr. A shared show six men in uniforms riding bicycles, waiting in a lane for a traffic signal. There are cars driving on the road around the club members, creating a dangerously risky situation that could easily lead to a serious accident.
Mr. A said, "I'm not sure if they were riding as a group, but I still think it would be correct to move twice across the crosswalk at the intersection and then turn left," and criticized, "At OOO intersection, they were spread out like a line of soldiers. They moved without stopping at a red light and cut in front of cars waiting at the signal. This is not acceptable." He added, "If you happen to see this after your group ride today, I hope you reflect on this."
Netizens who read the story responded negatively, saying things like, "Those people will never reflect," "They are selfish people who only think about themselves," "They are probably being criticized even within their club," "They just look pathetic," "As a cyclist, I feel embarrassed," and "It's deplorable that this is happening nationwide."
Meanwhile, bicycle riders must operate their bicycles according to certain methods and standards to facilitate smooth road traffic and prevent traffic accidents, thereby protecting drivers and pedestrians safely. According to Article 13, Paragraph 2 of the Road Traffic Act, if there is a separate bicycle road, bicycle riders must use that bicycle road. However, if there is no bicycle road installed, riders must travel close to the right edge of the road. When crossing a road with a separate bicycle crosswalk, riders must use the bicycle crosswalk, and if there is no bicycle crosswalk and they cross using a pedestrian crosswalk, they must dismount and walk their bicycle across. Bicycle riders who obstruct pedestrian crossing may be fined 30,000 won.
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