Fixie Bikes Without Brakes Face Crackdown: National Assembly Passes New Law

Around 1:00 a.m. on March 18, a group of students on bicycles appeared in front of an apartment complex.

They circled around as if performing stunts, riding in a group at high speeds.

These are "fixie" bikes—fixed-gear bicycles typically used on tracks for stunts or professional training. Because they are fast and often ridden without brakes, they are frequently referred to as "rolling bombs" on the road.

As reports from residents flooded in, police announced at the time that they would investigate the students' parents for child neglect under the Child Welfare Act.

Authorities warned that "if parents fail to take appropriate measures despite multiple warnings, they can be punished for neglect." However, in the end, it was impossible to legally punish the parents involved.

While their actions were subject to public criticism, the case was closed without formal booking, as it was determined that applying the charge of neglect to hold them criminally liable was difficult.

Although this was the first time parents had been investigated over a fixie bike incident, there were clear legal limitations in pursuing criminal punishment.

However, with the passage of a relevant bill at the National Assembly plenary session yesterday (June 18), a path has finally been opened to regulate fixie bikes.

The core of the passed legislation is to explicitly include fixie bikes—which lack braking systems—within the legal definition of a bicycle, thereby making them subject to legal enforcement.

This amendment addresses the loophole where fixie bikes without brakes were technically excluded from the category of "bicycles" because existing laws defined bicycles as vehicles "equipped with a braking system."

The law also explicitly adds a mandatory requirement for the installation of braking systems.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained, "This amendment is a legal measure to prevent bicycles without brakes from becoming weapons on the road."

Exceptions will be granted for designated locations, such as velodromes, as determined by Ministry of the Interior and Safety ordinances.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to incorporate these key changes in the Bicycle Act into safety education programs and, in cooperation with the National Police Agency, strengthen public awareness campaigns, guidance, and enforcement to ensure the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians on bicycle paths.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.