Teenagers Risking Their Lives with 'Fixie Bikes'… Middle School Student Dies in Accident
Recently, the 'fixed gear bike' (commonly known as fixie bike), which has been spreading like a trend among teenagers, has ultimately led to a fatal accident.
According to the police on the 17th, on the 12th of last month, a middle school student, identified as A, was riding a fixie bike down a hill on a side road in Seoul when he lost control and collided with an air conditioning outdoor unit, resulting in his death.
Fixie bikes have a single gear structure without gears and brakes, originally intended for track racing. They require pedaling backward to brake, which significantly diminishes safety on regular roads.
It is difficult to control speed on downhill slopes, and since the pedals keep turning with the wheels, sudden stops are practically impossible. Additionally, the risk of pants or shoes getting caught in the chain leading to falls, or difficulties in avoiding sudden obstacles, is considered a critical danger.
Left in a Legal Blind Spot… Difficult to Regulate
Under current road traffic laws, fixie bikes without brakes are not recognized as 'bicycles', thus prohibiting both road and bicycle path use. However, due to ambiguous enforcement regulations, they are effectively in a management blind spot. In various parts of Seoul, it is not uncommon to see groups of teenagers riding fixie bikes at night with loud music.
These individuals often ride in dark clothing without wearing safety gear, making it hard for drivers to spot them, increasing the risk of additional accidents. According to police statistics, among the total of 5,571 bicycle traffic accidents last year, 1,461 (26%) involved teenagers under 18, representing a significant increase compared to the previous year (18.3%).
Police to Strengthen Regulations Under Road Traffic Law… Holding Parents Responsible
In light of this incident, the police plan to significantly strengthen enforcement. The National Police Agency intends to classify fixie bikes as 'vehicles', deeming road use as a 'violation of the duty of safe driving', and will commence educational and enforcement actions. They are also preparing to concentrate traffic police around middle and high schools during the beginning of the school season.
In particular, if the violators are minors, parents will be notified immediately. If appropriate actions are not taken after several warnings, guardians can be punished under the Child Welfare Act for 'child abuse and neglect'.
Kang Chang-hoon, head of the National Police Agency’s Traffic Safety Division, emphasized, "Fixie bikes are structurally very dangerous, making proactive regulation unavoidable," and urged parents and schools to cooperate more in safety education.
Image source: News1
