Ignoring red lights. Riding on the wrong side of the road. Cycling with umbrellas. Many in Japan have complained for years that people on bicycles flagrantly flout traffic rules, putting themselves and others in danger. A revision to the country’s traffic laws aims to change that by issuing fines for a wide swath of violations.
Will they be effective, though? Some cyclists say that, before levying fines on bicycle users, Japan should invest in biking infrastructure.
The new blue card
The changes will go into effect on April 1st, 2026. Under the revision to the country’s Road Traffic Act, a slew of violations will now result in fines. Previously, most of these violations had resulted in a “yellow card,” which was just a warning with no financial penalty. (Violations resulting in an accident result in a red card, which can carry a criminal penalty.)
Some of the new fines include:
- Using a smartphone while riding: 12,000 yen ($84)
- Running a red light, riding on the wrong side of the road, or riding on a pedestrian sidewalk: 6,000 yen ($42)
- Cycling two cyclists abreast, or with two cyclists on the same bike: 3,000 yen ($21)
- Passing motorists without staying on the left side of the road: 5,000 yen ($35)
- Cycling with an umbrella or while wearing earphones: 5,000 yen
- Riding a bike without working brakes: 5,000 yen
The law doesn’t just seek to punish cyclists, however. Motorists could also be fined 7,000 yen ($49) for failing to leave enough room on the right when passing cyclists who are staying to the left side of the road.
The changes are intended to reduce bicycling-related accidents. While 2024 saw a dip in bicycling-related accidents, the total – 67,531 – remains elevated compared to historical norms.
The change is in addition to the fines introduced in November 2024, which provide stiffer penalties for “nagara-unten” (using a smartphone while cycling) and drunk cycling. Under the current law, smartphone usage can result in prosecution, with a penalty of up to six months in jail and a 100,000 yen ($650) fine.
So why the new smartphone fine if a stiffer penalty already exists? According to legal analyst site Bengo4.com, prosecuting all the violators of the smartphone rule is impossible. Police hope they can deter more violations by handing out tickets.
Bicyclists deride Japan’s lack of biking infrastructure
Livedoor’s X post on this subject drew intense conversation. Many commenters objected particularly to the rule about riding on pedestrian-only sidewalks.
While some sidewalks in Japan have bicycling lanes, many don’t, and are too narrow to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists. At the same time, however, most cyclists say they fear riding on the roads. Bicycling lanes in Japan are generally just “paint on the road” and aren’t cordoned off from traffic.
Most of the time, these painted bicycling lanes end up blocked by cars and trucks that are temporarily parked – e.g., taxis and delivery drivers. That forces cyclists either to use the sidewalk or, more dangerously, to use the neighboring traffic lane. One X user posted a picture of this, fuming, “The bike lane in Yotsuya [Shinjuku, Tokyo] is blocked, so where do you want me to ride?”
(Hilariously, one commenter replied, “on the sidewalk,” while another replied, “on the road,” thus proving OP’s point.)
Some areas of Tokyo get this right. For example, National Route 1 through the Takanawa area leading into Shinagawa City has set up posts along the bike lane paint, creating a cordoned-off lane. It’s laid down separate paint marks indicating where delivery drivers can park.
The Tokyo Bay area also has multiple areas with expansive bike lanes alongside pedestrian walkways. While not all of them are cordoned, many are wide enough for cyclists to pass in both directions.
The problem is that these implementations are inconsistent across Tokyo and the rest of Japan. Most roads lay down paint and demand cyclists fend for themselves.
Statistics show that bicycling infrastructure improves cyclists’ safety, with New York City finding a 34 percent decrease in crashes after putting a protected bike lane on Columbus Avenue. It also has numerous economic benefits and reduces car dependence. For example, only 41 percent of Denmark’s poorest residents use cars as opposed to 72% of low-income Americans.
As a cyclist, I’ll admit that Japanese bike riders can be unhinged. At the same time, Japan’s a generally safe place to bike in spite of its cycling infrastructure, not because of it. The country could reduce bicycle violations and accidents much more effectively if it built lanes to keep bikes both out of traffic and off the sidewalks.
Discuss this article with other UJ fans on our Bluesky account or Discord server!
Join Us And Get More
We’re an independent site that keeps our content free of intrusive ads. If you love what we do, help us do more. Donors of $5/month or more (paid monthly or yearly) join Unseen Japan Insider and get a newsletter with bonus content and commentary every week.
What to read next
Unseen Japan Rebranding to “Seen Japan”
The site will re-focus on soft-hitting content that dives softly into well-trodden subjects such as oh my god Becky did you know JAPAN HAS FOUR SEASONS?!
Why 3,000 People in Japan Claim the Imperial Palace Is Their Home
Japan’s registered domicile law means that, when you get married, you can claim you hail from anywhere in the country. And many people do.
How This Tea Company Connects Small Japanese Producers With Drinkers Worldwide
Japan’s traditional tea businesses are struggling. Here’s how one business is helping by connecting them to a global tea-loving audience.
Sources
自転車の交通違反に「青切符」施行 反則金取り締まり開始へ. Livedoor News
自転車の違反にも「青切符」導入、支払わないとどうなる？ 「ながらスマホ」は反則金1万2000円. Bengo4
Protected Bike Lanes Statistics. People For Bikes
自転車交通違反に「青切符」来年4月からの方針 反則金の額は… NHK
