Seoul to test run bike helmet rentals

A free helmet rental service begins in the Yeouido area for one month. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Kim Hyun-bin

A month-long trial of a helmet rental service for those who use Seoul's public bikes, or Ttareungyi, begins today.

According to the Seoul Facilities Corp. (SFC), Thursday, 500 helmets will be placed at bike stations in the Yeouido area and riders can use them without additional cost when they rent a bike.

Wearing a bike helmet becomes mandatory from Sept. 28 after a revision of the traffic law in March.

“During the trial period, we will review a wide range of issues like helmet usage, loss or damage level, safety and satisfaction level,” SFC chief director Lee Ji-yoon said.

According to the SFC, 400 of the helmets will be placed in bike baskets and 100 will be in storage boxes.

The helmet weighs 250 grams and there is a reflector on the back for night riding.

When people are finished with their rented bike, they can leave the helmet in the basket. Bikes can be returned to any bike station in the capital.

To maintain hygiene, the city plans to sterilize the helmets three times a week, but if there are other hygiene problems the helmets will be separately sanitized.

The cost per helmet is 14,000 won ($12). There are 20,000 public bikes in Seoul and the city estimates that 30,000 helmets will be needed to accommodate them all.

If the city provides free helmets around the capital, the cost is estimated to exceed 400 million won and maintenance and other costs are estimated at 1 billion won a year.

“We are exploring several options to better supply the helmets, including selling cheap helmets to new members,” a Seoul Metropolitan Government official said.

Although the new traffic law kicks in soon, there is no actual penalty yet for not wearing a helmet.