Blowing past stoplights. Riding in the opposite direction. Using their cellphones. Riding while drunk. For years, residents of Japan have complained that bicyclists seem to operate by different rules than drivers and pedestrians.
Starting in November, a new law vows to crack down on some of the worst behavior – in particular, riding while drunk or staring at your cell phone. Here’s what the new rules say – and how they may impact you if you cycle in Japan as a commuter or a tourist.
Japan: Very cyclists, much danger
Bicycling has been – and remains – a popular form of transportation in Japan. Studies from 2016 and 2020 found over 72 million bikes in the country. One out of every two people owns a bike here.
The so-called “mamachari” – “mama bike” – is a common sight in Japan, with parents using the car seat-mounted bikes to transport their kids to and from school. Electric bikes have also boomed in popularity in recent years, giving parents and people hauling groceries an extra assist on their commute.
However, the ubiquity of bikes also leads to a slew of problems. Despite Japan’s reputation for safety and low crime, bicycle theft is common, with some 184,000 bikes stolen yearly.
Another problem is illegal parking. Despite the ubiquity of bicycle parking lots, many cyclists in Tokyo will leave their bikes on the street or in front of stores in locations that interfere with pedestrian traffic. Many cities and stores have had to put up signs warning against illegal bicycling parking.
A spike in accidents
Then there’s the outright dangerous behavior. In particular, residents of Tokyo complain constantly about bicyclists weaving on and off sidewalks, riding in the opposite direction of traffic (a very common phenomenon), and riding while using their smartphones. The popularity of electric bikes, which can travel faster with less effort, is also making conditions more dangerous.
This bad behavior is leading to more accidents. In 2023, Japan saw 927 bicycling accidents – up from 893 in 2022. The number of those killed increased from 11 to 17. Of those injured, 36% were kids in middle or high school.
Statistics show that over 50% of riders in accidents suffer head injuries. Other stats showed that not wearing a helmet – which most riders don’t in Japan – results in a 2.3x greater risk of death if you’re in an accident. In response to this, Japan passed a new law last year requiring riders of all ages to wear helmets.
Smartphone riding, DUI will get you fined now
It’s better, of course, if there are no accidents in the first place. In the past year or so, police have cracked down harder on cyclists who break the rules. However, the most they usually do is issue a so-called “red card.” The red ticket doesn’t carry a fine. If a rider amasses too many, prosecutors can elect to press charges and seek a fine.
Many have argued that the red card doesn’t do enough to curb bad behavior. Indeed, the country’s helmet law – which doesn’t impose any fines – has been in effect for a year and yet I still see the majority of riders biking around without helmets.
As a result, Japan passed new regulations, effective November 1st 2024, to stiffen fines for two of the worst types of bad biking behavior.
The first is cycling while using a smartphone or other device (ながら運転; nagara unten). Previously, this carried a fine of under 50,000 yen (USD $326). As of next month, it can incur a fine of up to 100,000 yen (USD $652) and/or six months in jail.
The second is drinking and cycling. Previously, police could charge anyone who was riding dead drunk and clearly unable to operate a bicycle properly. As of November 1st, police can arrest anyone who is under the influence. Penalties include up to three years in jail and a 300,000 yen ($1,957) fine.
Bicycling in Japan for tourists
Bicycling in Japan is extremely fun, and I encourage it. But if you travel to Japan and rent a cycle, be aware of the rules of the road.
Most of the rules are common sense (e.g., always stop at a stop light). Some may differ from your home country. In particular, bicyclists should always keep left on the road, staying within the lanes painted on the roadside.
When crossing roads, bicyclists are always expected to cross with pedestrians at pedestrian crosswalks. This means removing yourself from traffic (particularly if you’re in a left turn lane) and crossing with foot traffic.
This rule is in effect when making right turns as well. All right turns should be so-called “hook turns” – i.e., you should cross straight and then turn right at pedestrian walkways, never from the right turn traffic lane.
Don’t forget your helmet, either. And for the love of the gods, don’t ride while looking at your smartphone or under the influence. We’ve had enough issues with tourists causing accidents lately – we don’t need more.
If you need more information on bicycling in Japan, the Tokyo Police publish a great brochure in English explaining the rules of the road. Let’s be careful out there.
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