Gwangju Unmanned Public Bicycle 'Tarangkke' to Begin Full Operation Next Month

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 24th that the operation of Gwangju’s unmanned public bicycle system ‘Tarangkke,’ which is being promoted to activate bicycle use, will be conducted within the Sangmu district starting next month.

‘Tarangkke’ has the advantage of removing restrictions on rental and return locations, allowing users to rent a bicycle wherever they want and return it at their destination. It is characterized by enhanced connectivity with public transportation.

A total of 200 Tarangkke bicycles will be deployed throughout the Sangmu district. Traffic volume surveys were conducted at key points in Sangmu, and signboard installation work for Tarangkke parking lots (where rental and return are possible) has already been completed at 52 locations with high bicycle traffic.

Bicycle racks are scheduled to be installed in the Sangmu district in the second half of next year, after the completion of the ‘Water Circulation Leading City Project’ planned for the area.

Rental and return must be done at locations marked with Tarangkke parking lot signs throughout the Sangmu district. Returns are not accepted at non-parking lot locations, and an additional fee of 500 KRW per 30 minutes will be charged.

Anyone aged 15 or older can use the service year-round from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Various passes can be purchased through the website and the Tarangkke app, including a 1-day pass (1,000 KRW), 7-day pass (2,500 KRW), 1-month pass (5,000 KRW), 6-month pass (20,000 KRW), and 1-year pass (30,000 KRW).

To encourage widespread use, the maximum usage time per ride is limited to 90 minutes. If the bicycle is returned and rented again within 90 minutes, no additional charges apply. However, additional fees will be incurred if usage exceeds 90 minutes.

For users unfamiliar with mobile devices, once a card with transportation card functionality (credit card or public transportation card, etc.) is registered for the first time, Tarangkke can be used simply by tapping the card without using a separate app.

Transportation card registration can be done via the smartphone app or by calling the Tarangkke operation center.

Staff at the Tarangkke operation center regularly check and disinfect bicycles for maintenance status, errors, and cleanliness. Any inconveniences during use can be reported through the website, app, or call center and will be addressed immediately.

If a user is injured due to a bicycle defect while using Tarangkke, they can report it to the Tarangkke operation center and receive compensation through the insurance company.

Im Nam-jin, Director of the Roads Division of Gwangju City, said, “We hope the pilot project for Tarangkke in the Sangmu district proceeds smoothly and look forward to the day when Tarangkke, a green transportation means, can run throughout Gwangju.” He added, “We ask users to always wear the safety helmet in the basket to ensure safe and enjoyable use.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.