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.