Do Japanese cities utilize bike lanes effectively, if they even have them? What are some ways Japanese municipalities could get more people cycling safely?

It would help if cyclist stuck to the cycle lanes instead of riding right towards pedestrians. I'm more concerned by the lack of pavements or sidewalks for pedestrians. You literally have to fight with cars for space.

I've cycled in Japan during my stay there and the bike lanes are ultra narrow and you have little to know room to maneuver in case something happens. I'd say that the most dangerous threat to a cyclist in Japan is the self-entitled senior citizen who will refuse to stand aside or even sometimes actively block your path.

Like Eastmann said, many people here in Okayama see the blue bike lanes as parking areas and there is no enforcement.

In the Tokyo area there are few bicycle lanes as Europeans imagine them. Most “blue lines” mark at most 1 meter for use. Narrowing that are bushes to the side with branches that protrude into the street. Using a bicycle lane shouldn’t have to be an act of faith.

One other observation: although bicycles are equipped with warning bells I’ve noticed (over 35 years) that they are rarely used. In the few cases they are used the bells are rung when the bicyclist is nearly on top of a pedestrian sometimes startling the person into the bicycle’s path. Ring from 4-5 meters back AND slow down!

I'd say that the most dangerous threat to pedestrians in Japan are the self-entitled senior bicyclists who will refuse to turn aside and head straight towards you and even sometimes cross centimeters in front of you and block your path.

Fixed it for you.

Bicyclists with bells or screeching brakes and overburdened and distracted acting as if they have the right of way on sidewalks are a daily dangerous threat.

It is perhaps prudent to point out that the so called bike lanes are not exclusive for bicycles. The blue paint and the 自転車専用 in itself mean absolutely nothing. Motor vehicles are legally, both de jure and de facto, allowed to drive in them, park in them and stay/stop in them! There might be traffic signs making it illegal to do so, but that would apply to the complete road/street, and is noting that is regulated by a "bike line" sign.

No parking unfortunately mean very little as it not only possible to load and off-load (as it standard in many other jurisdictions, but also as long as you can speedily move the motor vehicle you are not 'parked', That's why as long as you sit in the car you are not parked. That is also why you see traffic wardens stop what they are doing if the driver comes back while they are about to apply the law.

Furthermore, even when there is no staying/stopping, as long as you sit in the motor vehicles traffic wardens will not do anything. Yes, I have checked with them and a few wards authorities. That leaves us with the police, and they do *+#% (insert swear word of choice) all.

All-in-all, 'bike lanes' in Japan are a joke.

In the cities, many of the large streets have very wide sidewalks, which is understandable. But many of them have bushes planted next to the curb to beautify and prevent cars from temporarily parking there.

I'd like to see them take those bushes, poles, electric boxes, mailboxes, planters out and make them into separated bike lanes from car traffic. Often times, there's more than enough room to slightly narrow the sidewalk. If people could walk freely without the worry of bicycles weaving in out of foot traffic, they wouldn't need to be so wide.

I ride my bike casually across Tokyo everyday. Once you accept pedestrians will look straight at you. but not notice you (in fact that happens when walking to to be fair), and are generally devoid of any care or sense of space; you just slow down accordingly and take it easy.

However, the biggest threat to safety out there, are the Mothers, on powered bikes, roaring out of blind alleys, not looking or slowing at all. Obviously in a mad rush to get back home, get the washing done, and then get on with whatever affair they have lined up that afternoon. They are a menace!

Well said spinningplates. How those fast and heavy pedal assist bikes can be allowed on footpaths is mind-boggling. I have had many near misses, especially on the wrong side of the road and around blind corners.

Japan doesn't use roads effectively, let alone bike lanes. Bike lanes are almost non existent. Bikes therefore run in any empty space, on the right, on the left, on the road, on pavements. There is no real address system and few indications of where you are and where the road leads to. People park on double yellow lines to answer a phone call or do their email and bicycles have to go into the centre of the road to go around them. It's a mess.

More bike lanes are needed but before doing that I think many things are needed first and few here are going to like what I say.

First formal training, not as extensive as a driver's licence for cars but around the level needed for those without a car driver's licence need for a 50cc scooter.

Liability Insurance for cyclists should be mandatory.

License plates should also be required.

Once people are properly educated on the rules of the road, can be penalized for breaking them and identified for doing the same and or damaging cars or property.

Then build the proper lanes and signaling, yes signaling.

Signals specifically for the safety of the cyclists, priority to go straight (so cars turning don't run them over as the hurl by on the inside lane past all the traffic,) priority for turning to avoid the need for them to stop at larger intersections and do the stop and cross on the other side.

My car was hit by a cyclist (this time a foreigner on a fancy bike) I tried going after him but he saw what he did and took off on a one-way street in the opposite direction of traffic so I couldn't follow, ¥120,000 in damages as the mirror needed to be changed and fender repaired.

I wish I could say this is the first time, but it isn't.

I have a dash cam I gave the recording to the police but without a facial image and some way of identifying the person such as a license plate, there is little the police can do

I will however echo the comment that the police need to enforce the no stopping in bike lanes.

Even on Hakusan dori with the bike lanes inside and parking meter spaces between the the bike lanes and moving lanes inevitably some fool will stop in the bike lane.

Enforcement and education on all sides are the first priorities.

What bike lanes? A bit of blue paint that cars just park on isn't a bike lane. It's a complete joke.

factchecker

Today 07:44 pm JST

What bike lanes? A bit of blue paint that cars just park on isn't a bike lane. It's a complete joke

Would it make a difference if Japan had full bike lanes?

No!

Go to Hakusan dori need Tokyo dome. Full lanes, separated by the meter parking.

And watch how few of the cyclists follow the direction of the lanes, they cut across traffic instead of going to the corner and crossing at the lights, they don't stop at Red lights unless they really gave to.

The stencil of a cycle on the left of the lane in Tokyo works well. It lets car drivers know that cyclists share the road and reminds cyclist to keep near the curb. Most roads in Tokyo are too narrow for dedicated cycle lanes.

https://youtu.be/bnsqSgMFzNE?si=8zzCdXGonvGUHxQq

"more bike lanes", "be like Europe".... colonisation dreams and/or the idea that occident ideas are always good and right.. is somehow very present in this comment section.

First you have be a responsible road user. Car have to be of road worthy condition to use the roads. Cyclist have a responsibity to use road worthy bikes. Road bikes with racing tires and racing handle bars should not be allowed on the road. The thin tyres are problematic and the riding position is also problematic to be used on the road with other road users. Your body should be in an upright position to allow for all-round better vision. Brakes should be disc brakes and the tyres 40mm or more. a Helmet should be use when on the road. Now we to talk about bike lanes.

I was told that using the bicycle bell is against the law. Is that true? My bell was stolen (I paid around a 1,000 yen for it instead of just buying a cheap one from Daiso) and I was griping about it to my doctor. He told me that it's against the law to use it. I asked him if that was true, why are bicycles equipped with bells? He shrugged.

I used the bicycle lanes, although sometimes there are vehicles that are parked, so I have to use the car lane.

A Giant Talon hard tail with a standard 10 speed at around 80,000 yen or similar. Change over the plastic peddles for some superior flats. You can change over the tread pattern for road and you have the perfect commuter bike for both gender/sex. A lot of people by off the rack. You really should think about getting fitted with any new bike. Would you rather a suit of the rack or a fitted tailored suit. And about the bell. I found that the bell make the walker jump. A simple coming on your right here in Japan is way better way of warning when approaching a walker. But in my state you can’t sell a bike without a bell retail. Use the appropriate bike or tool for the job. Nothing against racing bikes but racing bikes and traffic is not a good mix.

Thanks, Hawk. Good to know!

In Minami-Kashiwa, where I live, there are painted-off strips at the side of some streets, many of which lie flush with the marker between r\car territory and guttering. To use that as a bicycle lane is impossible, since one's pedals hit the raised curb.

In other areas of the town, we get a generous 20-30 cm of tarmac before the painted line demarcates us. Unfortunately, some genius at the city office has decided to place bollards within that space, rather than on the painted line itself, thus making it necessary for cyclists to use a 60-cm more narrow road.

The cycle lane is blocked with bollards. Why, a suspiscious mind could read something into that.

Bicycle lanes in Japan?

Don’t be daft!

Because on the standard Giant Talon bike you get standard plastic peddles. I perfer a nice alloy wide flat peddle. Or anre you asking why not clipless. If the later clip less are designed for racing and again should not be allowed when using the road with othe road users. I also used clipless and like them a lot. Tread only if you are using the bike on the road commuting. Your choosing I meant to say. I have never had a problem with my dirt tires when on the road but I rarely ride on the road. You have to crazy when there no decent bike lane and some of those are just to dangerous for me to ride. So I stick to dirk tracks and cycle ways.

I used clipless when I was heavy into downhill but I have aged and digressed and slow up bloke on the BD tracks the bike parks. so I stick to mostly old fire trials out the back of home. The local council have just built a couple of A grade tracks down my way. One even has a shuttle system on weekends. I been told that it is of top quality. Great to see the local government investing in useable infrastructure for all classes and all ages of the comunity to use for free.

If you ever down my way there great coastal track https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/bingi-dreaming-track. 12 km long combines beach 4km and single track. No hard up high. Passing through banksia and eucalyptus forest passing by beautiful coastal views and along deserted stretches of beaches. 24 km if you do a return. Very underutilised track hardly never pass other walked or riders also as most great rest spots along the way. At the very end there a bench on the Southside of Bingi looking down the coast to Tuross Head. Great way to end a ride or trek.

I only saw in Nagoya very good bicycle only lines, with fences and 2 way path. Very good.

Tokyo? They don't even have pedestrian walking on the roads, even on newly build house neighborhoods.

And yes, mamacharies are a manace. They are the worst bike riders by a fair margin. Even when riding with 2 kids, they seem to think the whole road and streets are only theirs.