South Korea's public bicycle fleet has grown past 70,000 units, but rentals fell more than 10% over the past year. Bicycle accidents also declined, yet deaths rose 13%, pointing to a continued need for safety measures.
The country had 71,938 public bicycles, up 2,366 units, or 3.4%, from a year earlier, according to the 2025 bicycle use survey released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 29th. Public bike rentals, by contrast, totaled about 52 million last year, down 10.3% from about 58 million a year earlier. That is still 30% higher than the roughly 40 million recorded in 2021.
Seoul dominated public bike use by region. About 37 million rentals, or 71% of the national total, took place in the capital. Daejeon followed with 5.97 million (11%), South Gyeongsang Province with 5.02 million (10%) and Sejong with 2.62 million (5%).
Infrastructure for cycling continues to expand. The nation's bicycle paths stretched a combined 28,453 kilometers, up 699 kilometers, or 2.5%, from a year earlier. Compared with 25,249 kilometers in 2021, that is an increase of 3,204 kilometers, or 12.7%, in four years. Of the total, shared bicycle-pedestrian paths accounted for 21,033 kilometers, or 74.0%, while bicycle-only paths measured 3,875 kilometers (13.6%).
The number of local governments carrying group bicycle insurance also rose, from 168 in 2023 to 171 in 2024 and 191 last year. As a result, about 47 million people, or more than 90% of the population, are covered by group bicycle insurance. Annual enrollment at the 80 safety education facilities run by local governments has surpassed 200,000.
Accidents fell while deaths climbed. Bicycle accidents numbered 5,235 last year, down 336 cases, or 6.0%, from 5,571 a year earlier. Deaths over the same period rose 13%, from 75 to 85. About 66% of all accidents, or 3,458 cases, stemmed from failure to observe safe-driving obligations. Accidents involving riders aged 20 or younger increased 2.4%, from 1,620 to 1,659, while those involving riders aged 61 or older fell 8.0%, from 1,804 to 1,659.
The cross-country bicycle trail network currently comprises 12 routes spanning 1,857 kilometers. About 53,000 people used the trails last year, and cumulative users have topped 1.08 million since 2012.
"We hope these statistics help local governments craft effective bicycle policies," said Jin Myung-ki, head of the ministry's Local Autonomy and Innovation Office. "We will actively work to spread a culture of safe cycling, including by expanding cross-country trail routes and supporting safety education."
