Cyclists in Japan risk jail for using mobile phone, riding while drunk

Didn't take long.

Just wait until 1,000s of injuries and any number of deaths, and then swing into action.

Hopefully this will clear up some of the notorious behaviour in my near neighbourhoods.

Nanny state at work.... How am I supposed to get home from the station after a bender?

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Now do three drivers going through red lights before the stop signal counts.

Are automobile drivers still free to not just look at their phones, but watch television on their dashboards?

Headline makes it soundlike they risk being jailed for using a mobile phone while drunk, as well as riding while drunk. Might cut down on the nude pics sent back and forth, especially to the wrong person, but still...

And why is this illegal for cyclists now but if you take a look at any give car most have smartphone stands as well as TVs that play video or what have you WHILE the person is driving?

I will bet that the police will collect way more fines from cyclists than car drivers.

Don't gete wrong I agree with this especially the phone use but seeing I drive nearly daily fir work, I see hundreds of driver's using their phones, and even with the police cars right next to them and the police act like they can't see it.

In one corner with an extremely short turn signal 9 out of 10 times I need to blow my horn because the car Infront doesn't go, and in 99% of the cases I can see them suddenly lift their head up put the phone down and of course they get the light the rest of us behind miss it.

And right on the corner is a Koban and the police standing outside just ignore.

But you can bet those same police at night will be active stopping any cyclists without a light on or to check the bike's registration.

It is a real clown show.

Is there any "stand your ground" part going together with this? Like, wacking that stupid cyclists who comes at you with a phone in their hand? And what about holding an umbrella while riding in the rain? Very common in the more urban areas, and dangerous as well.

Those who offer alcoholic drinks to cyclists face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen.

How do you know if a person you offer drinks to is a cyclist?

The biggest question though is what about phone holders? Would make it very much the same as in cars, but one is legal the other not? Welcome move to hold cyclists responsible for their actions, but letting cars off the hook doesn't sit right.

It would also be nice if officers here held cyclists responsible for breaking the laws already on the books, not just making new laws they won't enforce anyway. Wasn't there an article a couple of years back that 80% of police aren't even aware of most bicycle laws? Those mama-chari umbrella stands in use? against the law. Cycling on a sidewalk narrower than three meters in Osaka prefecture? against the law (unless, for some reason, unless you're a child or elderly). Cycling with something hanging from your handlebars? against the law. And yet, police do not stop people who break these laws every day. If police want to fill their quota on this new law they need only sit outside an izakaya around bonenkai season when the PTA or even high school student groups go out (moreso graduation for the latter). Tried going to an izakaya near my apartment the other night but it was jam-packed with middle-aged mothers drinking their faces off after their kids' exam season had ended. Outside were about 42 bicycles (most parked around the no bicycle parking signs) belonging to them, and most with "PTA on patrol" signs attached to the baskets (or one of four child seats).

And why are these phone holders allowed for sale? For a car, I can see it -- passengers may use them and not just the drivers. However, for bikes?

I was almost got hit by an uber cyclist he was rushing and staring at his phone while I was walking. What a nuisance and he's not supposed to cycle on the

on the sidewalk.

How do you know if a person you offer drinks to is a cyclist?

Impossible to know.

...unless they're wearing bike shorts, a cycling jersey and a helmet, but that would be ridiculous.

All for it but at least make people here understand that they should ride on the right side of the road before you start micro managing laws. Problem isn't the lack of laws it's not enforcing them.

The cops need to get off their backsides and get out of the koban and start dishing out fines. Otherwise this is all just a waste of time

Got pulled over by a small police bike for texting while driving my car. He explained that holding it in your hand was the problem - not using it. Okay to use. Not okay to hold. I would guess the same applied to bicycles, so a phone holder should suffice.

How am I supposed to get home from the station after a bender?

Good one. You’ll have to take the pony.

Japan is now one of the strictest nations in regard to fining cyclists, unfortunately it is amongst the least developed in regard to providing even simple infrastructure for cyclists.

Why use a photo of a light motorcycle? That is NOT a bicycle. They are faster and heavier. Any collision with a pedestrian will result in greater injury. They should require a license and be restricted to streets.

JR; my experience is of a few cyclist actually riding on the right side of the road, I prefer driving on the Left side. Never had an accident, after a bender shanks pony is normally the safest way to the bus stop. whatever mode of personal transport.

Back in the day. I remeber a JCOP told me to ride my bike home after a few stiff ones at my local watering hole. Rather then drive.

Me and my silver Mamachari. 6pack of Asahi Superdry in front basket and a nice buzz. Good times.

Full reverse? Jail time? Fines? Kill joys.

AnonymousToday  06:42 pm JST

Why use a photo of a light motorcycle? That is NOT a bicycle. They are faster and heavier. Any collision with a pedestrian will result in greater injury. They should require a license and be restricted to streets.

That is NOT a motorcycle. That is an electric assisted bicycle. It has no throttle and must be pedaled like a regular bicycle for the electric motor to assist. For that reason it is not classed as a motorcycle or moped and requires no license or plates.

Phone holders for bicycle handlebars is to hold a smartphone using a GPS/google map application. No hands and no different from Car Navigation screens in cars.

Now go after all the mamas and school kids riding on the wrong side of the road and usually without lights at night.

@ JRO

but at least make people here understand that they should ride on the right side of the road

The stares that you must ride on the left, like other vehicles.

Have to agree with the tougher laws. I hope they apply to these "loop" nuisance contraptions too.

100% agree with these laws, I have seen enough of these so called Cyclists who are so careless to the point where they think they have more rights than people of foot.

Disgusting careless individuals ride their bicycles with speeds over 25km / hr. you almost have to jump or run to avoid getting hit.

There’s gonna be a lot of late Uber deliveries.

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I think that government should start issuing Number Plates for certain size bicycles so people can report their plate numbers in case of an accident or a violation.

"New laws" enforced the first 1-2 weeks for PR, then completely ignored.

What's the point if the cops aren't consistent with this?

Also, just 6 months in jail for their punishment? Why not make it a year or 2 or 10? Get rid of all those morons not paying attention.

Double or triple it for anyone driving while drunk or using smartphones as well.

But again, what does it matter if none of it will be enforced after 1-2 weeks?

But you can mount the phone to your handlebar and it’s ok. Not sure that is much more safe.

Nibek32Today  07:53 pm JST

But you can mount the phone to your handlebar and it’s ok. Not sure that is much more safe.

Try it, it is. Does having the car nav on interfere with your driving?

Nothing like holding a phone in your hand and looking at the screen while riding a bicycle or driving a car.

Looks like they are going after UBER Eats!

The stares that you must ride on the left, like other vehicles.

I meant right as in (正しい）not as in (右）At least where I live it's a free for all what side of the road you drive on, sometimes more people drive on the 右 side of the road than the left, and give me dirty looks when I don't get out of the way for them.

So if you borrow a child under 6, properly seated, and they hold your cell phone, how would that be?

What about requiring a license for any power assisted bicycle, require helmets and must be on the road. The real danger are those electric assisted bicycles and scooters. No helmet should get you a real fine.

Likely this new law will be used like a lot of the laws we have in the US. It just gives a cop something to stop/arrest someone they want to stop, but maybe don't see any other reason to stop and question the person.

For example, the person has been arrested before and the cops suspect they might be guilty of something. Cop can say the bicycle rider "appeared to be riding like they are intoxicated" or " the rider checked their phone will moving". Now they have legal right to stop the rider and determine if they are guilty of something like drug possession or have warrant for their arrest.

More rules from the Japanese authorities probably trying to target foreigners this time because most of the Uber and other food delivery cyclists are foreigners…lol ! Those foreigners will use cellphones for directions during food deliveries so one of the lawmakers who hates foreigners decided to bring this bill to parliament and it was passed by other lawmakers!

I’m all for safe cycling but it’s important to actually punish cyclists who already break rules such as holding an umbrella while riding, constantly running the red light and don’t stop while pedestrians are crossing, doing doubles on the bicycle, and more importantly those mamachari bicycles which go past people without any care at full speed! But no since most of those offenders are Japanese, the police won’t enforce those rules. Instead make more rules to target foreigners! If Japan doesn’t want foreigners then make immigration system harder like it was 20 years back. But no they need foreigners for cheap work to keep the economy growing so they decide to open the immigration system and become more racist to foreigners living in Japan!

The police don't do it for drivers, which in my opinion is much more dangerous, so why would they do it for bicyclists?

how many people killed are we talking about here?

The police don't do it for drivers, which in my opinion is much more dangerous, so why would they do it for bicyclists?

Easier to spot and easier to catch up with, so might be used as a way to pull in some easy money when needed.

Cell phone zombies should also be jailed for texting while dragging their feet in pedestrian crosswalks.

I am happy with this rule. Using the car daily I see all those zombie cyclists watching the phone and not the road.

And next the zombie walkers.

If you don't like the rules Japan is applying than you can do two things, cross the boarder and go home or do some activity and do petition or whatever instead of complaining which will not work. Especially on japantoday

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Nanny state at work.... How am I supposed to get home from the station after a bender?

If you can't afford a cab I suppose you'll just have to walk.

I hope this is enforced, but I won't hold my breath. Also, I know we're in a non-English speaking country, but I always want to shout at the bikers racing on narrow, crowded sidewalks, "It's a sidewalk, not a sideride! Get in the darn road if you're going to go that fast!"

SeawolfToday  05:46 pm JST

Is there any "stand your ground" part going together with this? Like, wacking that stupid cyclists who comes at you with a phone in their hand? And what about holding an umbrella while riding in the rain? Very common in the more urban areas, and dangerous as well.

Agreed 100%! Not too long ago, I saw a young woman nearly kill an old woman who was waiting at the crosswalk (waiting on the sidewalk, mind). The young woman was speeding down the sidewalk, didn't bother ringing a bell or anything, and would have hit the old woman if the poor thing didn't see her coming last minute and try to jump out of the way. The young woman didn't even bother to turn and apologize. Despicable behavior, and it happens daily.

Cyclists in Japan risk jail for using mobile phone, riding while drunk

Cool. More rules for cyclists and police to ignore.

The prison population here is a tiny fraction of the number incarcerated in the USA (40K vs 2000K). One should not assume from this stat, however, that the locals are way less predisposed to criminality. Japanese tolerance for ambiguity means that too often, a blind eye is turned to infractions that elsewhere would automatically attract a custodial sentence. Suspended sentences are another way of pretending things are what they’re not.

It’s well and good to have laws on the books. But their success is by no means assured without a corresponding change in the justice system’s predilection for massaging the stats in the interests of making Japan seem more law-abiding than it actually is.

Falling revenues due to car ownership dropping. Going after cyclists and then finally, pedestrians. You watch.

How about those careless mothers doing slaloms between cars with their mamachari bikes, riding on opposite lane? or millions holding the umbrela in one hand while riding with 1 hand only?

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"...cross the boarder [sic] and go home..."

The correct spelling is 'border'.

The vehicle in the image does indeed look terrifying. E-bikes should be classified as scooters. Leave mama charis alone.

Excellent!!.

Well done Japan..

Their country, their rules..

GO JAPAN!!..

I love cycling in Tokyo, it's the best - free as a bird! I also thoroughly hate cyclists when I am driving.

As a cyclist in Tokyo, I am free to do whatever I want on the roads, anyhow I see fit. I just follow the locals in this regard.

As a cyclist I feel like an anarchist, a free radical, a liberated soul, an outlaw.

As a driver, I hate how cyclists do whatever they want on the roads with impunity, riding down streets the wrong way, ducking in and out of traffic, mounting the sidewalks, shooting across zebra crossings, bombing down narrow sidewalks, shooting across the front of alleyways etc etc.

Heaven and Hell.

I really feel that any extracurricular activity should be banned while riding a bicycle. Whether using a smartphone or smoking a cigarette, they should not be allowed while riding a bicycle. Also, when I learned how to drive a car, it was stressed to me to always be a defense driver. Bicyclists should also be the same. Whenever I ride a bicycle, I'm always trying to be careful, slow down when coming to a person or group of people, stopping or slowing down and looking both ways before crossing in front of any side pathways or streets, etc. Yet, I see so many bicyclists whiz past people with no care in the world. It's as if those cyclists feel that it's up to the pedestrians to stay or move out of the way. Maybe someday, they will require people to get a bicycle license or go through some bicycle training.

Can we ban biking and smoking??

JRO

Nov. 1 06:09 pm JST

All for it but at least make people here understand that they should ride on the right side of the road before you start micro managing laws. Problem isn't the lack of laws it's not enforcing them.

Clarification needed.

By "right side" do you actually mean to right or the correct side.

A major misconception is that cyclist like pedestrians when no sidewalk is available they should ride facing traffic.

The laws in Japan are clear but rarely enforced.

Bicycles, e-bikes, e-kickboards, needed to ride in the same direction as the trafic ( cars).

The exceptions: Young children and elderly and people with bicycles that are certified to have a single child seat and have the child in that seat may use the sidewalk (no child they must use the same as cars unless a bike lane is available)

The other exception is a one way street, cyclists can ride in both directions but must maintain the traffic direction as if it was a 2 way road and obey the stops that are painted on the road specifically for bicycles.

So a cyclists coming towards me on a one way road should be doing so on my right side and they should have the buildings to their left side.

Hawk...

If you can't afford a cab I suppose you'll just have to walk.

Walk? After a good bender I can hardly stand let alone walk.

リッチNov. 1  08:44 pm JST

What about requiring a license for any power assisted bicycle, require helmets and must be on the road. The real danger are those electric assisted bicycles and scooters. No helmet should get you a real fine.

Electric Assisted bicycles can not operate without being pedaled and are therefore considered the same as regular bicycles-no license required. The motor assist only works when starting off or riding uphill. They can not go any faster than a non-assisted bicycle. If they have been modified to go faster than that, they are illegal and subject to prosecution. They pose no more danger than non-assisted bicycles.

In Japan bicycles are to be operated on the roadways, with the exception that they can be operated on the pedestrian walkway if the operator is 13 years or younger, 70 years or older, or have a disability card. Unfortunately this is hard to enforce and in many instances bicycles pose a threat to pedestrians.

Japan went just short of mandatory helmets for bicycles this April, by making it a "recommendation" without any fines or tickets. Worst that can happen right now is just a warning. Hopefully that will change in the near future. Age 13 and below already required to wear helmets but it is never enforced.

Bicycles are very hard to see at night, and in addition to a headlight, a flashing red rear light should also be made mandatory to enable car drivers to see them. A simple reflector is insufficient.

Scooters, or "gentsuki" which are presently 50cc or below that require no special license other than a car license, can not be driven on sidewalks. And they have to follow different rules when turning right at intersections.

Mr Kipling,

Walk? After a good bender I can hardly stand let alone walk.

The sign of any good bender? But you think you should be able to cycle?

^Ignore that first question mark. Should be, "The sign of any good bender."

In Japan bicycles are to be operated on the roadways, with the exception that they can be operated on the pedestrian walkway if the operator is 13 years or younger, 70 years or older, or have a disability card. Unfortunately this is hard to enforce and in many instances bicycles pose a threat to pedestrians.

Or if there is one of those blue signs on the walkway with pictures of a pedestrian and of a bicycle, indicating a shared walkway. In my neck of the woods, that's most of them. In fact, on the main road through my neighbourhood, they have just painted blue arrows on either side for a cycle lane. The signs on the sidewalk still remain though.

Cyclists using a mobile phone while riding in Japan could face up to six months in jail under strict new rules that entered into force Friday.

This is very strict. I see a lot of speeding drivers, drivers not obeying crosswalks going on that gets overlooked.

What a silly law....then, it is more sensible to forbid drinking alcohol all together.

I have some anecdotes regarding the topic.

I was walking around my neighborhood and some elderly guy fell while riding a bicycle. Some people were closer to him and went to help him out so I would be just in a way if I tried to help as well. Then that old guy told them that he was drunk and my immediate thought was “serves you well”. It was not that late and him being drunk could hit and injure a toddler for example so I agree with high fines for drunk driving.

Another one is regarding one T shaped intersection with traffic lights. Cyclist on the main road often ignore red light for them and just continue going downhill which can result in either pedestrian injuries or they could get hit by a car coming from the side road.

My final one is about unknown cyclist who was ringing like crazy and screaming at another cyclist girl who was texting while driving. Unfortunately because of morons like that girl people have a bad image of cyclists and I applaud him for trying to make others to follow the traffic safety rules. Definitely wish that majority of cyclists were like that guy.

I ride on a bike every day to go and come back to work and what I found most dangerous in rainy days are people holding an umbrella with one hand and the other conducting the bike, they are not able to make full stop and for sure do not have 100% control of the situation. It is not usual to see people using the cell phone while riding, at least here, in Komaki, Aichi