Electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes, are becoming popular in North Korea as a means of earning money, sources in the capital report.
“Pyongyang has seen a sharp increase in people using e-bikes to earn money. Most E-bike drivers are selling rides to people who are traveling distances that are too far to walk,” a source in Pyongyang told Daily NK in a phone interview on October 23.
“However, giving people rides on the back of a bike is illegal in North Korea, so most e-bike drivers are operating on the outskirts of Pyongyang where law enforcement is a little more lax. There have been several instances of e-bike drivers having their bikes confiscated by the authorities in urban Pyongyang.”
According to the source, the cost for a 12 km ride on an e-bike works out to be around 10,000 KPW.
When compared to the relatively more expensive taxis whose base fares alone amount to 2-3 USD and trolley-buses that rarely show up on time, e-bikes are quickly becoming a popular transportation and package delivery service alternative in North Korea.
In addition, e-bike batteries have become easier to charge thanks to improvements in Pyongyang’s electricity supply, according a separate source in Pyongyang, who explained that this has led to the emergence of vendors that recharge and exchange batteries.
Daily NK recently reported that the authorities have been restricting e-bike usage in some areas of the country as part of broader efforts to limit electricity usage.
“E-bikes have been popular in Pyongyang for a long time now. Even the working class have started buying them. Due to the capital city having a much better electricity situation than rural areas, using these bikes as a means to make money can almost be seen as a no-brainer,” the additional source said.
Despite the majority of e-bikes in North Korea being Chinese made and costing around 300-500 dollars, a price three times more expensive than a regular bicycle, they are seen as a valuable investment due to the poor public transport infrastructure.
