Rules For Riding Bikes in Japan
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 01.12.08
Cop ticketing kid in Japan. photo credit blasdelf
Controversy rages whenever we post about headphones and helmets on bikes, but in Japan it won't be open to discussion; new cycling rules come into force this spring that ban cyclists from from holding an open umbrella, listening to music, or talking on a phone.
Kids have to wear helmets, and "triple riding"- riding with children in both front and rear seats- is now illegal. Oh, and constantly ringing a bicycle bell while riding on a crowded sidewalk is a no-no. All with fines up to 20,000 yen. (US$183) ::Asahi via ::Tokyomango
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As a cyclist, I do not have a problem with it. It is a bit extreme, but it makes sense --- IF (and it is a big 'if') they have similar laws in place for automobiles:
1. No items in-between you and the windshield.
2. No stereo equipment.
3. No eating, smoking, or talking on the phone while driving.
4. No using the horn except in emergencies.
Typical common sense stuff that make just as much sense to be in place for automobiles as cyclists. In fact, since an automobile actually has the potential to harm others, it makes more sense to have these laws in place for drivers.
Every now and then there are ticket blitzes targeting cyclists in New York City. Some are deserved, some are plain silly.
There should be ticket blitzes against pedestrians who just blindly stumble out into traffic against a red light without even looking. They have the nerve to get mad at people with the green light right of way. Darwin, where are you?
Riding with an umbrella ... well that's just odd.
vsk
@Monty
I agree with your post, we think alike
Typical. If people quit driving they will start shaking down bicycle riders.
I also agree with Monty.
“In fact, since an automobile actually has the potential to harm others”
Hey, Monty
I don’t know if you commute regularly, but a 185 rider - going 20+ mph, rounding a blind corner, in a bike only commuter path (off the road) hitting 4 people riding abreast makes for a pretty big mess.
Just for the record, I really DO NOT care for ‘recreational riders’ who plod along, talk with their friends - 2, 3 and 4 abreast the bike path, and in general act as though they are the only riders on the planet.
After seeing the carnage, I always slow, almost stop, going into blind or obscured corners - you just might meet a wobbly 4 YO out with the folks for ‘fun’.
My point? Bikes can cause actual harm to others -- high speed adult bicycle riders can kill.
Some misc. comments from a Dutch biker:
Umbrella's should be forbidden anyhow, they are a great safety risk for the eyes of other people. Wear some decent clothing or stay at home when it rains!
Driving a bicycle with two children on it forbidden? In Holland this would been half of the children would not get to school. (and yes: this is perfectly safe if a Dutch mum or dad is riding the bicycle for who a bicycle is a part of their body)
"constantly ringing a bicycle bell while riding on a crowded sidewalk "
cyclists don't belong on the side walk they belong on the street.
@Monty: no eating on the bike? When do I eat my breakfast then?
"cyclists don't belong on the side walk they belong on the street." "Riding with an umbrella ... well that's just odd."
"it makes more sense to have ..."
Clearly none of you have lived in Japan. More interesting, perhaps in this context, you should be aware of the scale of fatalistic abandon with which pedestrains AND cyclist ride / walk in Japan. One reason being of course that IF you have to go to court because you ran down someones grandma, there is a strobg chance that YOU will have to pay a alrge sum of money to the family, regardless of whether it was YOU or "grandma" that actually broke ANY rules or laws, as the driver of the ( larger )vehicle, YOU will be held "proportionally" more responsible.
Personally, I have had some stunningly unbelievable near misses ( by rule disobeying )in Japan like this. One old guy rode straight out in front of me on a main road from a side street COMPLETELY blocked from my view.As I slammed on brakes and beeped my horn, he rode off without a single twitch of recognition. I still wonder sometimes if it was a ( profit making?) suicide attempt.
By comparison, IF someone suicides in front of the train, the train company will sue your family for costs, so thats no option, just in case you wondered.
Of course, I also had countless near misses with the arrogant drivers who like to drive thoruogh red lights in their cars, hmm fun and games.
I found out later that my area was particularly infamous in Japan for this kind of thing, NOW they tell me. For the record sense has little concrete relation to Japanese drivers, and "pavements are mostly non existent in Japan, so keeping the pedestrians ect on pavements, bicyles on road is a non option. AND If you value your life as a cyclist you WILL get off the road at every opportunity.
Throw the book at the lot of em I say.