Greater than 98 p.c of Seoul residents have expressed help for increasing town’s “no e-scooter zone” coverage, reflecting rising issues over the protection dangers posed by private mobility units, in response to information launched Monday.
Information from a latest pilot program, which designated two metropolis areas as “no e-scooter zones,” discovered enhancements in pedestrian security and the general strolling atmosphere.
Practically all respondents ― 98.4 p.c ― stated they’d help the concept of increasing such zones all through the capital. In distinction, solely 2.6 p.c stated that the restrictions made their every day actions much less handy.
Older residents, notably these aged 40 and above, reported noticeably larger ranges of satisfaction and optimistic impression from the e-scooter ban, as they have been statistically extra more likely to be strolling relatively than driving, in comparison with the youthful age group of 18 to 30. As Seoul’s inhabitants ages, the necessity for pedestrian-friendly insurance policies is anticipated to rise.
Electrical scooters have quickly remodeled Seoul’s city panorama since their introduction round 2018, changing into a well-liked “last-mile” answer for bridging the gap between subway stations and ultimate locations, particularly amongst youthful commuters.
Regardless of their comfort, the e-scooter surge has created important security and obstruction points.
Since Could, the Seoul Metropolitan Authorities has banned e-scooters and related private mobility units from Hongdae Pink Street (1.3 kilometers) and the Banpo “hagwon,” or cram faculty, space (2.3 km) between midday and 11 p.m. In simply six months, 69.2 p.c of surveyed residents reported a safer strolling atmosphere, whereas 77.2 p.c famous a major drop in collision dangers. In the meantime, 80.4 p.c noticed fewer deserted scooters cluttering sidewalks.
Greater than 53 p.c of respondents stated they turned conscious of the particular zones via adverts, indicators and the media.
Violators caught driving restricted e-scooters in no-go zones are topic to a high-quality of 30,000 gained and 15 penalty factors; stiffer penalties ― as much as 60,000 gained ($42) and 30 penalty factors ― apply inside baby safety zones. However for now, police are providing a grace interval as town coverage remains to be in a trial interval.
The town authorities stated it plans to work with police subsequent month to boost enforcement and focus on increasing the scooter bans to crowded and high-risk areas.
A girl rides an e-scooter with out carrying protecting gear in Seoul, on this Sept. 25, 2022, file picture. Newsis
The push for extra restrictions comes as an increase in e-scooter-related incidents lately. In line with information from the state-run Korea Street Site visitors Authority, the variety of accidents has elevated greater than tenfold over the previous a number of years ― from 225 in 2018 to 2,232 in 2024, together with a number of high-profile circumstances leading to extreme accidents and even fatalities.
In June 2024, a highschool pupil driving an e-scooter struck two pedestrians from behind in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, which resulted within the demise of one of many victims in her 60s. Final week, a decide handed {the teenager} a minimal sentence of six months in jail and a high-quality of 200,000 gained on costs of driving with out a license, amongst others.
On Monday, a 45-year-old man was convicted of comparable costs and fined 2 million gained, after severely injuring a 64-year-old lady together with his e-scooter in Incheon on Jan. 20.
“The outcomes of the citizen notion survey present that the indications associated to pedestrian security have improved, because of the restrictions on e-scooter transit. Accordingly, we are going to create a safer pedestrian atmosphere by systematically managing e-scooter and pedestrian interactions and establishing operational pointers to make sure security,” stated Yeo Jang-kwon, chief of town authorities’s transportation division.
