Recent bus explosion jacks up bike sales

By Kang Seung-woo

Kim Youn-soo, a communications graduate school student, is considering riding a bicycle to work.

The 27-year-old is not an athletic type and his decision to commute by bicycle followed an explosion on a commuter bus.

“I have commuted between school and home by bus, but this accident has unnerved me and I am considering buying a bicycle,” Kim said.

Kim is just one of a growing number of commuters, who are taking a new liking to two-wheelers after the incident, according to Gmarket, the leading online marketplace.

Gmarket said that bicycle sales increased 54 percent for the week after the accident, compared to a week earlier.

On Aug. 9, a natural gas-powered public transit bus exploded on a Seoul street, injuring 17 passengers.

The most seriously injured was a 28-year-old female whose ankles were shattered. She underwent reconstruction surgery but it was not clear whether she will fully recover.

The explosion was followed by reports of several bus-related accidents. One involved a crash due to a flat tire that left some passengers slightly injured.

“I know the bus is better than a bicycle,” said Lee Seung-hyup, a 29-year-old studying for an exam to be a certified public accountant (CPA). “But I was frightened to hear of the explosion, so I plan to buy a bike again.” He said that he sold his bicycle a couple years ago.

The accident has made an odd combination, with bicycle fever among young people being buoyed by the government’s “for-bicycle” policy. .

Sales have so far increased 18 percent in August from the same month last year, Gmarket said.

“All things considered, the bicycle boom appears to continue for a while,” a Gmarket official said.