제 12 호 Do You Know How to Ride a 'Ddareungi' Bike Cheaper?
Kicker: ENTERTAINMENT
Do You Know How to Ride a ‘Ddareungi’ Bike Cheaper?
: Introduction of the Bicycle Driving Ability Certification System
By Su-Yeon Park, Reporter
possible921@naver.com
Have you ever ridden a bicycle called Ddareungi? ‘Ddareungi’ is a public bicycle system provided throughout Seoul, and it is a kind of living transportation. Many people enjoy cycling as a sport that they can use on the streets, including the Han River. In addition, bicycles are not only healthy means of transportation, but they also do not emit greenhouse gases, so there is no environmental pollution problem. Currently, the cost of using Ddareungi for an hour a day is 1,000 won, and you can use it at a low price. But if you could use a bicycle 30% cheaper, would you like to try it?
There is always a risk of traffic accidents because roads are mixed with various means of transportation other than bicycles. According to the analysis results of bicycle traffic accidents released by the National Police Agency and the Road Traffic Authority, about 50,000 bicycle traffic accidents have occurred over the past 10 years (2011-2020), and 6,233 casualties have occurred in 5,667 traffic accidents in 2020. The bicycle driving ability certification system was introduced with the aim of preventing accidents by learning clear safety rules.
<Bicycle Traffic Accident Analysis Results>
What is the ‘Bicycle Driving Ability Certification System’?
The "Bicycle Driving Ability Certification System" is a system newly introduced in June 2021 to enhance the effectiveness of bicycle safety education and to create a proper and safe bicycle use culture. It is a kind of license that a bicycle rider can obtain, like a driver's license granted to a vehicle driver.
About the Bicycle Driving Ability Certification Test
Precaution
First of all, only Seoul citizens are eligible for the ‘Bicycle Traffic Safety Education Certification’ test in Seoul. Then, you must be a person who has completed bicycle safety education (theory and practice). Therefore, you should apply for bicycle safety education through the ‘Seoul Lifelong Learning Portal’ before taking the test.
How to apply?
1. Access the website of the ‘Seoul Lifelong Learning Portal’: (https://sll.seoul.go.kr/main/MainView.dunet)
2. Click ‘All house number 1 (Neighborhood Learning Center)’.
3. Apply for education at the desired place by referring to the schedule posted in 'Seoul City Course Information'.
<Example of how to apply for traffic safety education for bicycles>
Overview of the test
The certification system program is conducted in the order of safety education course completion, writing test, and practical test, and if you score more than 70 points on both writing and practical tests, you can qualify in recognition of your bicycle driving riding ability. Depending on the age of the candidate, the test types are divided into beginner level (9 to under 13 years old) and intermediate level (13 years old or older). Please refer to the table for evaluation items, evaluation contents, and acceptance criteria for each type.
Type | Target | Evaluation items | Evaluation contents | Criterion for passing |
Beginner | 9 to under 13 years old | ∙Writing test -For infants or elementary school students ∙Practical test -Basic skills test for driving | ∙Writing test -Traffic laws -Signals -Driving theory -Common sense -etc ∙Practical test 1) Basic skills test for driving: -Safe start and stop -Signals (left and right) -Gear shift -Sudden stop -Crossing the crosswalk -Passing through the intersection (turn left) 2) Driving test (Driving on the road): -ㄹ-shaped course -8-shaped course -Zigzag course | Upon completion of writing and practical tests |
Intermediate level | Over 13 years old | ∙Writing test -For middle and high school students or adults ∙Practical test -Basic skills test for driving -Driving test (Driving on the road) | When scoring more than 70 points for each of writing and practical tests |
Benefits
If you pass the intermediate class of the ‘Bicycle Driving Ability Certification’, you can get a discount on the usage fee of ‘Ddareungi’.
1. Of the Ddareungi usage fees, ‘daily ticket’ will be discounted by 30% and the ‘regular ticket’ will be discounted by 15%. The discount period is two years from the date of certification, which is the validity period of certification.
2. The method of applying the discount is as follows. Successful applicants can automatically receive discounts when purchasing daily or regular tickets from the app after signing up for the ‘Seoul Bicycle Ddareungi’ app.
<Discount Application Example in App>
People living in modern society are enjoying a more convenient life thanks to various means of transportation. However, it should also be kept in mind that some people who do not abide by norms and rules can harm others. For example, pedestrians on the sidewalk may be injured by bicycles that are indiscriminately parked on the street. In addition, bicycles fall under the Road Traffic Law and are treated as traffic accidents in the event of an accident, so bicycle drivers need to pay special attention. I hope that the introduction of the bicycle driving ability certification system will be a successful start to revitalize a safe bicycle culture. I look forward to creating a safer transportation environment by gradually expanding such safety education and applying it to public bicycles as well as other means of transportation such as electric kickboards.
