Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

No more motorbikes on sidewalks?

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/
Sharing Seoul`s sidewalks and crosswalks with motorcycles could soon become a thing of the past as authorities plan a major crackdown on motorcycle riders.
On Thursday the Seoul city government announced on that it will work with the police agency and other concerned authorities to reinforce motorcycle-related regulations.

As a first for a regional government, the Seoul city will be carrying out a crackdown on illegal practices by motorcycle riders such as driving on sidewalks and using the bus lanes starting in October. In preparation for the crackdown, city government will be carrying out a study to determine the areas with a high frequency of traffic violations by motorcyclists until the end of the month.

For the crackdown, the city has selected four types of offences as their main targets. The four offences are driving on sidewalks, parking and idling in bus lanes, parking on sidewalks and irregular practices including driving in bus lanes and cutting in. During October, the city plans to carry out a campaign to persuade riders to refrain from such practices and deploy special teams to enforce the regulations from November.

In addition to clamping down on motorcyclists, the Seoul government is planning to revise related laws to improve the efficiency of the system for managing motorcycles.

One of the key revisions the Seoul government will be pushing for is making it mandatory for motorcycles with engine displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters to be registered with the authorities.

As such, when motorcycles are involved in accidents, the authorities only have a limited ability to track down the owners or the vehicles despite the fact that motorcycle accidents have been rising in recent years.

According to a report by National Assembly member Yoon Young, the number of motorcycle accidents increased by 57 percent between 2003 and 2007 while car accidents dropped 12 percent. Over the same period, fatalities resulting from motorcycle accidents also increased 20 percent while the number of injuries rose 70 percent.

In particular, the report singled out those with engine displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters as being particularly dangerous. According to Yoon`s report, the number of accidents involving such vehicles increased 131 percent while fatalities and injuries respectively rose by 151 percent and 143 percent between 2003 and 2007. In addition to being free from the obligation to register, owners of motorcycles with engine displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters can also forego vehicle insurance.

The Seoul government also plans to change regulations concerning the authority to penalize motorcyclists for violations to increase the efficiency of the system.

Under current regulations the authority to issue fines for various offences are given to different agencies making motorcycle management difficult for local governments. At present, the 30,000 won ($25) fine for illegal parking and driving is issued by the police while the police and regional governments share the authority to fine motorcyclists 30,000 won or 40,000 won for using the bus lanes.

By Choi He-suk

([email protected])



2008.09.29

[crazy_arcade]

It's a problem, that's for sure.
But, it's just like the prostitution and a multitude of other problems.
How can you fix a problem without providing a solution?

Where the hell are people going to park their motorbikes safely?

[Cheonmunka]

BS: It's the taxis and other idiots that do the cutting in.

[Whistleblower]

I notice nothing is mentioned about motorcyclists that ride their motorcycle without a helmet. Surely that is one of the biggest dangers about motorcycling???

Nice to see the Korean Government want to get rid of motorcycles wizzing around pedestrians on a pavement. I feel like knocking those riders off their bikes whenever I see them speed and cut around people. Bloody dangerous!!!

[ernie]

i'm surprised this law doesn't exist already. it's called a sideWALK, not a sideRIDE/DRIVE/PARK for a reason! i predict that this new law, like all laws in korea, will have little to no effect on the behaviour of koreans.

[njp6]

It'll be nice to get the scooters off the sidewalks so the cars can have more places to park.

[cruisemonkey]

It'll never work.

[marlow]

Does this include scooters?

[Return Jones]

Motorcycles illegal on the sidewalk?! What will my mailman do?

[jvalmer]

I say, who really cares about scooters and delivery boys riding on sidewalks. It's something mostly foreigners raise a big stink about. As a foreigner myself, I was kind of hoping Korea would have more of a 3rd world atmosphere. But, I was so disappointed.

[TheChickenLover]

Fine them out of existence.

These idiots who choose to deliver stuff by making themselves a danger to everyone and themselves should be fined to the point where they realize it's not worth it. They're paid crap wages anyways. What they need are some serious fines from the gov't that they can't run away from and then nail them again with their wallets.

You can't force them to stop, but you CAN drain their bank accounts. That will have the same effect.

Chicken

[sistersarah]

I'll believe it when I see it. In my neighborhood in Dongdaemun, the sidewalk may as well be a road for motorbikes. I would never take a child walking here, and I really have to be careful for my own safety when I go walking myself. It's really too bad.

[RACETRAITOR]

Damn, good thing my scooter's not working.

[Jeweltone]

I just heard that the department secretary of my old university (a lovely and diligent girl) was struck by a "scooter"...while getting off a bus. Last time I checked, buses pull up to the CURB to let passengers off.

She died from her injuries.

[Eedoryeong]

motorbikes off sidewalks..
won crashing...
booking room raids...
K-teachers who really want to teach English..

This just ain't the same Korea anymore!

What's next? Corn off of pizza? People cleaning up after themselves in the toilets?

Oh for the nostalgic days of a gawk, a point, and an 'aish!'