A Seoul city pilot of "streets without kickboards" on two sections in the city found that nine out of 10 local residents favored expanding the ban zones. Since May, kickboard operation has been banned from noon to 11 p.m. on Hongdae Red Road in Mapo District (1.3 kilometers) and the cram school district in Banpo, Seocho District (2.3 kilometers).
The city of Seoul on the 3rd announced the results of a survey of 500 people in the pilot areas to analyze the effects of the streets-without-kickboards trial.
According to the Seoul city survey, 53.2% of respondents said they "know about the streets without kickboards." The most common way people learned about them was through facilities such as signs, pavement markings, banners, and electronic boards at 80.8%. That was followed by on-site publicity and guidance activities (18.4%) and media reports (12%).
Respondents also said, in a question on changes in perception before and after implementation (average across the two sections), that they felt a decrease in electric kickboard traffic (76.2%), a decrease in the number of illegally abandoned devices (80.4%), and a decrease in collision risk (77.2%). In addition, 69.2% said "the pedestrian environment has improved."
By section, 84% on Hongdae Red Road and 68.4% in the Banpo cram school district said they "feel a decrease in electric kickboard traffic." Those who said the collision risk with electric kickboards had declined were 87.2% in Hongdae and 67.2% in Banpo, and to the question on perceived improvement in the pedestrian environment, 80.4% in Hongdae and 58% in Banpo said it had "improved."
Based on the survey results, Seoul plans next month to draw up expanded operational improvement measures, including whether to expand kickboard crackdowns and no-go roads in cooperation with police. Under the Road Traffic Act, electric kickboards, electric two-wheeled parallel vehicles, and bicycles that can move using only electric motor power are not allowed to travel in the Hongdae Red Road and Banpo cram school sections that were part of the pilot. If caught violating the travel ban, a fine of 30,000 won and 15 demerit points applies on general roads, and a fine of 60,000 won and 30 demerit points applies in child protection zones. However, police are currently operating a guidance period.
Yeo Jang-gwon, head of Seoul's Transportation Office, said, "We will do our best to create a safe pedestrian environment by establishing an operational direction so that safety management between electric kickboards and pedestrians can be carried out systematically."