Ulsan to Expand Service Area by Adding 300 'Kakao T Bike' Units

In Jung-gu, Nam-gu, Buk-gu urban areas, and parts of Ulju-gun from Beomseo-eup Guyeong, Cheonsang to UNIST
Popularity of individual transportation rises due to COVID-19... Additional high-performance bicycles deployed

Service operation areas of shared electric bicycle 'Kakao T Bike'.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] As COVID-19 prolongs, shared electric bicycles, a single-person transportation mode, are gaining popularity. Ulsan City will expand its service area by adding 300 units of 'Kakao T Bike' starting from the 2nd.

The service area has been expanded from the existing Jung-gu, Nam-gu, Buk-gu urban areas, and parts of Ulju-gun to include Geuyeong and Cheonsang in Beomseo-eup, Ulju-gun, as well as the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) area.

Along with the service area expansion, 300 units of the improved 2nd generation electric bicycles will also be additionally operated.

These complement the previously operated models, enhancing the durability of the chain, saddle, and tires to provide a more stable riding experience.

Ulsan City introduced the 'Kakao T Bike' service in September last year through a business agreement with Kakao Mobility Corp., becoming the first non-metropolitan and metropolitan local government to do so.

Despite COVID-19, the average monthly number of users and completed rides in August 2020 increased by more than 15% compared to the previous year.

Kakao T Bike operates using a pedal-assist system (PAS), where an electric motor activates when pedaling. It allows anyone to use it easily with less effort on uphill or mid-distance trips, and features free rental and return without docking stations.

However, since it operates without separate rental stations, it is very convenient for users but causes issues with bikes being left outside the service area.

Illegal parking problems continue to occur, so users should park at the nearest docking station whenever possible or in locations that do not obstruct pedestrian traffic.

The usage method involves searching for the nearest bike location using the smartphone app (KakaoT) and paying the fee (card, KakaoBank) after use.

The usage fee is 1,500 KRW (including insurance) for the first 15 minutes, with an additional 100 KRW charged per minute thereafter, and a separate deposit of 10,000 KRW must be paid upon registration.

Additionally, users are automatically enrolled in bicycle insurance simultaneously with the Kakao T Bike rental without any separate procedures, allowing convenient and safe service use.

Kakao Mobility Corp. plans to do its best to ensure citizens' safety by expanding coverage of property damage insurance in the future.

An official from Ulsan City stated, “As COVID-19 prolongs, interest in single-person transportation modes is increasing. This service area expansion and additional bicycle deployment will improve transportation convenience for citizens.”

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