Suwon City Intensifies Crackdown on Electric Kick Scooters Until End of Next Month

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City will intensively crack down on electric kick scooters through the end of next month in preparation for the relaxation of regulations on Personal Mobility devices (PM) following the implementation of the revised Road Traffic Act.

Currently, electric kick scooters can only be used by adults with a valid driver's license or those aged 16 and older with a Class 2 motorized bicycle license. When the revised Road Traffic Act takes effect on December 10, users aged 13 and older will be able to ride electric kick scooters without a driver's license.

To prevent safety accidents, inspection teams composed of city officials will attach relocation guidance notices to abandoned electric kick scooters near subway station entrances, bus stops, and crosswalks, recommending their removal.

The city plans to produce and distribute promotional materials on personal mobility device safety rules to citizens and establish measures to protect pedestrian safety, including signing a business agreement with shared electric kick scooter operators in the city.

A city official stated, "Personal mobility devices are gaining attention as citizens avoid public transportation due to the spread of COVID-19," and added, "We will actively cooperate with Suwon's Central, West, and South Police Stations to prepare for potential safety accidents that may increase following the relaxation of electric kick scooter regulations."

Currently, five kick scooter companies are operating approximately 1,650 shared electric kick scooters in Suwon.