Bicycle carriers are experiencing an increasing rise in demand in North Korea, offering to transport goods and people at affordable prices. Because of their low cost compared to motorbikes and taxis, bicycle transporters are receiving favorable reviews from customers who only wish to travel a short distance.
Bicycles have emerged as a new form of mass transit in North Korea’s provincial cities. Residents who own bikes are offering to transport people at competitive prices.
“These days, one can find many bicycle transporters standing next to bus stops and taxi parking lots,” said a South Pyongan Province source in a telephone call with Daily NK on June 15. “Bikes are a popular mode of transport for poorer residents.”
“Buses and taxis don’t charge passengers differently depending on the weight of their bags, but bikes are different. Because the bicycle carriers rely on their muscles, they carefully calculate the distance and the weight of the package (including the customer) when determining the price,” she continued.
As more of the population moves into the markets, there is a greater requirement to address the transport needs of diverse sectors of the socioeconomic spectrum. The donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More (nouveau riche) and the middle-merchants take taxis, while ordinary vendors prefer buses and motorbikes. Smaller merchants favor bike carriers due to the cheaper prices.
Another problem that bicycle transport helps to alleviate is theft. By taking a bike, merchants are less susceptible to thieves and can focus more on their selling.
“Residents who don’t have the money to buy their own bike and residents who have come from out of town tend to use the bicycle carrier service. Using them helps save time and money. From the service provider’s perspective, it’s a good way to earn money. That’s why it’s easy for the customer and the provider to meet in the middle,” a source in North Pyongan Province added.
In North and South Pyongan Provinces, it costs about 20,000 KPW (~US $2.5) per 40 km to take a taxi, but it is possible to negotiate with the driver. A bus costs about 15,000 KPW (~$1.90) for the same distance, and a motorbike ride costs about 10,000 KPW (~$1.25). Bicycle carriers charge about 5,000 KPW for 12 km (~$0.63).
When asked about the specifics of the business operations, she explained, “It’s possible to earn enough in a single day giving bike rides to purchase 2 kilograms of rice. But if there’s a mechanical problem with the bike, one could easily have to pay that much in repairs. Both the bike operators and the customers tend to be on the poorer side. The gap between the rich and poor is quite evident in the transport sector.”
At the same time, the number of taxis available in provincial cities has also grown, so those who can afford it have found a more convenient experience. “The price of oil is going up and down these days, but the price of taking buses and taxis hasn’t risen yet. This is because there’s fierce competition between providers in the transport sector, so they all want to keep prices low to attract customers,” the source concluded.
