The pilot project for the discounted transfer between Personal Mobilities (PM), the kickboards, and public transportation is being conducted around Pusan National University (PNU), which is the first operation nationwide. Similar to using conventional public transportation, users can simply tag their transportation cards on card readers to get an immediate discount of 500 won.

On March 13th, “Channel PNU” visited a parking area for kickboards located at the main gate of PNU. Six new pink kickboards stood in line with the name “Tagride.” Unlike other ones around the area, there were card readers on the handlebars, saying “Please your card here.” They were attached on kickboards for the pilot operation of “Discount for transfers between public transportation and PM,” since Busan released it on March 5th.

Users can get a 500 won discount for both directions from and to kickboards. The transfer method was the same as that of other public transportation. Passengers need to tag their transportation cards before getting off the vehicles and board another means within 30 minutes by tagging the same card.

Registration of a transportation card is required for the initial use of kickboards. When scanning the QR code on the dashboards of Tagrides, a screen appears asking for card registration. Users should fill in the card numbers and authenticate their driver’s license, only for the first time they use Tagrides. For the second use, a discount will be immediately applied as users tag their cards. Procedures required for using existing ones, such as installing applications by companies, license authentication process after scanning the QR code, and taking pictures to end the ride, have been simplified.

This implementation in Geumjeong-gu is the very first time in Korea, including Jangjeon 1-dong and Jangjeon 2-dong for transit areas. Particularly, PNU students are regarded as the main target users. Jeong Ju-Deuk (Manager, Transportation Policy Division of Busan) explained the reason why PNU was chosen saying, “We selected PNU as the first pilot project area due to the large population of people in their 20s, who are the primary users of kickboards. Moreover, considering the significant expansion of parking areas within PNU, we judged that the pilot operation would be smoother.”

PNU students, especially those who frequently use the kickboards, are looking forward to the project. Park Beom-Jin (Dept. of Russian Language and Literature, 22) said, “I spend about 120,000 won on transportation expenses per month. And 20,000 won of that is spent commuting with kickboards. The project is a very welcoming news for people like me, who use kickboards frequently.”

However, it remains uncertain whether it will lead to actual convenience as it is impossible to transfer with shuttle buses. Currently, it is not feasible to integrate them into the project. Moreover, while riding between PNU buildings in the 600 and 700 series is possible, it is impossible to return kickboards there as it is designated as a “Danger for riding and No-return area.” This restriction aims to prevent returns to reduce traffic there because the steep slope poses a risk for kickboard riding.

On March 5th, Busan announced plans to analyze the user data from this pilot operation and determine the direction for expanding its application throughout the city. They aim to realize the goal of a “15-minute city,” where six essential urban functions can be performed within 15 minutes. There are now 50 kickboards available for transfer, and transfer is only applied to city buses. The city will increase their number up to 200, and expand the range of transportation for transferring to include subways.

In March, the first month of its pilot operation, the fare per minute for kickboards is discounted in addition to the transfer discount. It is originally in the range of 150 to 170 won per minute but is currently discounted to 20 won per minute. When “Channel PNU” used the kickboard, the total fare was about half the price compared to before. The reporter took a bus from Busan Line 1 Dongnae Station to the main gate of PNU and transferred to the kickboard in the pilot operation to Moonchang Hall. If the discount is not applied, the fare for this route would be 3,410 won, consisting of a bus fare of 1,550 won, a kickboard basic fare of 500 won, and a kickboard extra fare of 1,360 won (170 won per minute). However, with the benefit of the project, the basic fare was discounted to 0 won, and the total fare was only 1,710 won with an extra fare of 20 won per minute. The total fare was about half the usual amount.

Kim Seok-Jun, Director of Office of MAS (Multiple Award Schedule) Business, the operating company for the transfer payment and fare settlement system, said, “We’d like to extend the discount on extra fare per minute for kickboards if there is an agreement with Busan and the PM companies. We have requested a review from the City of Busan.”

 Reporter Choi Yoo-Min

Translated by Lee Soo-Hyun