Riding Bike Drunk to Be Regulated
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Police plan to regulate the riding of bicycles while under the influence to protect the riders as well as pedestrians.
Those driving under the influence with more than 0.05 percent blood alcohol will be subject to a fine between 300,000 won and 5 million won.
The National Police Agency said Wednesday that the bill will be reviewed by the administrative ministry and submitted to the National Assembly soon.
Besides the punishment, it will also introduce some guidelines for users to wear headgear while riding, maintain a safe distance between vehicles and designate bicycle paths.
Some areas on roadways and pedestrian walkways will be reconstructed to bicycle-only tracks. But elderly people or underage children will still be able to ride their bikes on paths for pedestrians.
The police expect such revision to facilitate bicycle use in the country. At the moment, only 14 percent of people nationwide use bicycles, which is far behind Germany's 74 percent and Japan's 57 percent. However, the number of accidents is increasing every year. It marked 5,763 in 2003, but jumped to 7,790 in 2007.
``Bicycles are good for the health and the environment. We will encourage the green transport use but make it safer to ride in real life,'' a police agency spokesman said.